Sathiyan Gnanasekaran Wins WTT Feeder Title

March 22, 2024

Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, an Indian table tennis player, emerged victorious in the men’s singles event at the WTT Feeder Beirut 2024 tournament held at the Al Kawthar Secondary School in Lebanon. Sathiyan, ranked 103rd in the world, defeated fellow Indian and world No. 74 Manav Vikas Thakkar in the final with a score of 3-1 (6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4).

Road to the Final

En route to the final, Sathiyan pulled off a major upset in the semi-finals against Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-yuan, a former world No. 3 and current world No. 39. Sathiyan triumphed over Chuang with a score of 3-1 (11-8, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9), showcasing his skill and determination.

Thakkar’s Semi-final Victory

On the other side of the draw, Manav Thakkar secured his place in the final by defeating former World Championships bronze medallist AN Jaehyun of the Republic of Korea in straight games 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 12-10).

Mixed Doubles Final

In an all-Indian mixed doubles final, the pairing of Diya Chitale and Manush Shah emerged triumphant against Manav Thakkar and Archana Kamath. Chitale and Shah won the match 3-1 (11-6, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6), despite facing higher-ranked compatriots in the final.

Men’s Doubles Final

The men’s doubles final saw Indian pair Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah, ranked 17th in the world, face off against the Cuban duo of Jorge Campos and Andy Pereira, ranked 29th. The Cuban pair prevailed, winning the match 3-1 (11-5, 7-11, 11-13, 12-14).

Indian Dominance in the Tournament

Indian paddlers showcased their prowess throughout the tournament, with multiple players reaching the finals in various categories:

Two all-Indian finals in the men’s singles and mixed doubles events

Indian pairs Poymantee Baisya/Ayhika Mukherjee and Sreeja Akula/Diya Chitale reached the women’s doubles semi-finals

Manav Thakkar’s Impressive Run

Despite not securing a title, Manav Thakkar had a remarkable tournament, reaching the finals in all three events he participated in:

Men’s Singles (runner-up)
Men’s Doubles (runner-up)
Mixed Doubles (runner-up)

Important Facts for Exams

Sathiyan Gnanasekaran is a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
Manav Thakkar, at the age of 22, is one of the youngest Indian players to achieve a top-100 world ranking in table tennis.
Diya Chitale, who won the mixed doubles title, is only 19 years old and has already made a mark on the international stage.

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