India’s campaign at the WTT United States Smash 2026 gathered momentum on Tuesday as the country’s leading doubles combinations delivered impressive performances to reach the quarterfinals in Los Angeles. While Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah continued their remarkable run in men’s doubles, Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade scripted a memorable victory to advance to their maiden Women’s Table Tennis (WTT) Grand Smash women’s doubles quarterfinal.
The performances underline the steady rise of Indian table tennis on the global stage, with the nation’s doubles specialists consistently challenging some of the world’s strongest pairs. The WTT United States Smash, one of the four prestigious Grand Smash tournaments on the international calendar, features the world’s top-ranked players and carries significant ranking points and prize money.
Fifth seeds Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah produced another composed display to defeat Japan’s dangerous combination of Sora Matsushima and Shunsuke Togami 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7) in the pre-quarterfinals. After conceding the opening game, the Indian pair quickly settled into the contest, displaying excellent coordination, aggressive shot-making and solid defensive play. They gradually took control of the rallies, winning three successive games to seal a deserved victory against one of Japan’s most accomplished young partnerships.
The result marked their second consecutive appearance in the quarterfinals of a WTT Grand Smash this year. Earlier in the season, the Indian duo had enjoyed an outstanding campaign at the Singapore Smash, where they reached the semifinals, their best-ever finish at a Grand Smash event. Their consistent performances have helped establish them among the world’s most promising men’s doubles teams.
The challenge becomes even tougher in the quarterfinals, where Manav and Manush are set to face the Chinese pair of Wen Ruibo and Yuan Licen. China has traditionally dominated world table tennis, making the upcoming contest a significant test for the Indian combination.
India’s encouraging run in the doubles competition did not extend to the mixed doubles event, however. Manush Shah and Diya Chitale exited in the round of 16 after suffering a defeat to American pair Sally Moyland and Jishan Liang. Despite the loss, both players remain in contention in their respective doubles categories, keeping India’s hopes alive deep into the tournament.
Diya Chitale enjoyed greater success alongside Yashaswini Ghorpade in the women’s doubles competition. The Indian pair produced one of the standout performances of the day by defeating the experienced Chinese Taipei duo of Cheng I-Ching and Yeh Yi-Tian in the round of 16.
The victory was particularly significant as it secured Diya and Yashaswini their first-ever quarterfinal appearance at a WTT Grand Smash event. The duo displayed excellent chemistry throughout the encounter, handling the pressure well against opponents known for their consistency and international experience.
Their reward is another daunting challenge against one of the strongest pairs in world table tennis. In the quarterfinals, they will take on second seeds Hina Hayata and Miwa Harimoto of Japan, who are among the favourites for the title. The Japanese pair combines Hayata’s vast international experience with Harimoto’s rising talent, making them formidable opponents.
Indian women’s table tennis has witnessed considerable progress over the past few years, with players like Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Ayhika Mukherjee and Diya Chitale helping raise the country’s profile in international competitions. Young combinations such as Diya and Yashaswini are now beginning to make their mark on the biggest stages, highlighting India’s growing depth in doubles events.
In the singles competition, India’s challenge came to an end after Manav Thakkar faced one of the toughest draws possible. The Indian paddler was up against China’s Wang Chuqin, the world No. 1 and one of the most dominant players on the international circuit. Wang showcased his superior quality and experience, registering a straight-games victory to progress comfortably into the next round.
Despite the singles defeat, Manav can take confidence from another productive week on the WTT circuit. His continued success in doubles alongside Manush Shah reflects the pair’s growing consistency against elite international opposition.
The United States Smash is part of the WTT Grand Smash series, regarded as the most prestigious events in professional table tennis outside the Olympic Games and World Championships. The tournament has attracted nearly all of the world’s leading players, making every victory particularly valuable in terms of ranking points and experience.
India’s recent success in doubles reflects the country’s broader development in table tennis. Stronger domestic competitions, increased exposure to international tournaments and improved coaching structures have enabled Indian players to compete more consistently against traditional powerhouses such as China, Japan and South Korea.
With both the men’s and women’s doubles teams now through to the last eight, Indian fans will be hoping for another breakthrough performance. A place in the semifinals would further strengthen India’s growing reputation in doubles table tennis and add another milestone to what has already been an encouraging campaign at the WTT United States Smash 2026.
