Asian Table Tennis Team Championships 2025: Manav Thakkar leads new-look India men into quarters
Seven years ago, a bespectacled teenage prodigy from Surat was among the most promising paddlers on the world circuit. As part of India’s senior table tennis squad, Manav Thakkar travelled to Jakarta and Palembang for the 2018 Asian Games — a wide-eyed debutant soaking in the scale of the continental stage.
Cut to Sunday, and the 25-year-old finds himself in a different role altogether — not just a participant, but the leader of India’s men’s team, set to face Hong Kong in the quarterfinals of the 28th Asian Table Tennis Team Championships at the Kalinga Indoor Stadium.
“It is a huge honour and responsibility,” said Manav, who also plies his trade in the French league, after India’s practice session on Saturday. “We are a young team, but we are a strong team. All of us have been faring well on the international circuit as well. Everyone is excited to translate our excellent preparation into a performance on the table.”
For the first time in his career, Manav will walk into a team championship without the reassuring presence of India’s “big three.” With A. Sharath Kamal retired, and G. Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai making way for the younger brigade, Manav now stands as the bridge between generations — the link connecting India’s golden era in men’s table tennis to its next wave of challengers.
“But having Sharath bhaiya around in itself is a huge inspiration and motivation for us,” Manav said, referring to his long-time mentor and the event’s brand ambassador. “To have him around the group, albeit in a different capacity, is a huge motivation. Sharath bhaiya and Max (coach Massimo Costantini) have helped us understand the importance of relishing the experience of playing in front of a home crowd.”
On Sunday, the responsibility will rest on Manav, Manush Shah, and Ankur Bhattacharjee — with SFR Snehit and Payas Jain waiting in the wings — to turn belief into performance and extend India’s proud streak to a fourth successive Asian Championship medal.
Published on Oct 11, 2025