Ankur Bhattacharjee Storms into WTT Feeder Olomouc Semifinals, Reaches Doubles Final with Akash Pal
Indian table tennis player Ankur Bhattacharjee continued his impressive rise on the international stage with a strong run at the WTT Feeder Olomouc 2026, reaching the semifinals of the men’s singles competition while also making the men’s doubles final alongside Akash Pal.
Already a Youth World Championships silver medallist and Commonwealth Championships gold medallist, Ankur once again showcased his growing reputation as one of India’s most exciting young paddlers. His campaign in Olomouc has been marked by a series of high-quality performances, including victories over seeded opponents and a commanding quarterfinal win in the singles competition.
The Indian paddler booked his place in the men’s singles semifinals after defeating Singapore’s Quek Izaac in straight games. Ankur remained in control for most of the contest and secured an 11-6, 12-10, 11-7 victory to move into the last four.
The result was particularly impressive because Quek pushed the Indian hard in the second game. After comfortably taking the opening game 11-6, Ankur faced a tighter battle in the second. However, he held his nerve during the crucial points and edged the game 12-10. That proved to be a decisive moment in the match as he carried the momentum into the third game and sealed the contest 11-7.
The straight-games victory underlined Ankur’s ability to combine attacking table tennis with composure in pressure situations.
His run to the semifinals came after another significant victory earlier in the tournament. The third seed had produced a thrilling win over Laurens Devos in the Round of 32 of the men’s singles competition. That result gave Ankur an important boost and set the tone for his deep run in Olomouc.
Now, with a place in the semifinals secured, the Indian will have an opportunity to push for a place in the final and potentially add another major international achievement to his growing resume.
However, Ankur’s success at the tournament has not been limited to the singles event.
Teaming up with Akash Pal in the men’s doubles competition, the Indian pair have also produced an outstanding campaign to reach the final. Their performances have highlighted the strength of their partnership, with Ankur and Akash overcoming several challenging opponents on their way to the title match.
In the semifinals, the Indian duo delivered one of their most dominant performances of the tournament. They defeated the top-seeded Chilean pair of Burgos and Gomez in straight games, winning 12-10, 11-7, 11-2.
The opening game was competitive, with the top seeds pushing the Indian pair all the way. But Ankur and Akash stayed composed to take it 12-10. Once they secured that crucial opening game, the momentum shifted firmly in their favour.
They followed it with an 11-7 victory in the second game before completely dominating the third. The Indians raced through the final game 11-2 to complete a memorable straight-games win and book their place in the men’s doubles final.
Beating the top seeds in such convincing fashion will give the Indian pair considerable confidence heading into the championship match.
Their route to the final also included another impressive victory over the Mexican-Canadian combination of Castro and Ly. The fourth-seeded Indian pair won the match 3-1 to advance to the semifinals, continuing their strong progress through the draw.
That victory showed their ability to respond in a longer contest, while their semifinal demolition of the top seeds demonstrated just how dangerous they can be when their rhythm clicks.
For Ankur, the WTT Feeder Olomouc has therefore become an opportunity to make a statement in both formats. Reaching the singles semifinals while simultaneously advancing to the doubles final is a significant achievement and reflects his ability to handle the physical and mental demands of competing across multiple events.
It also continues a strong trajectory for the Indian paddler, who has already experienced success at major age-group and international competitions. His Youth World Championships silver and Commonwealth Championships gold had established him as a promising name in Indian table tennis, and his performances in Olomouc suggest that he is continuing to make progress at the senior international level.
The challenge now will be to finish the tournament strongly.
In the men’s singles, Ankur stands just one victory away from the final. In the doubles competition, he and Akash Pal have already reached the title match and will look to convert their excellent run into a tournament victory.
For Indian table tennis, it has been an encouraging showing. Ankur Bhattacharjee has stormed into the singles semifinals, while his partnership with Akash Pal has reached the men’s doubles final after defeating the top seeds in emphatic fashion.
With two major opportunities still alive at WTT Feeder Olomouc 2026, Ankur’s remarkable week is not over yet.
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