India March into Both Team Finals at Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships 2026
India's table tennis teams moved one step closer to reclaiming Commonwealth supremacy after both the men's and women's squads booked their places in the team finals of the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships (CTTC) with impressive victories over England at the Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The top-seeded Indian men continued their flawless campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory, while the women's team overcame a determined England side 3-1 in a hard-fought semifinal. Both Indian teams will now face Malaysia in the championship matches after the Southeast Asian nation also emerged victorious in its respective semifinals.
The twin final appearances reinforce India's status as one of the dominant forces in Commonwealth table tennis and keep both teams on course to lift the coveted team titles on home soil.
The Indian men's team produced another clinical display, extending their unbeaten record in the tournament without dropping a single match. Leading the charge was Manush Shah, who delivered a composed performance against Connor Green in the opening rubber. Despite facing resistance in the first two games, Manush remained calm during the crucial points to secure an 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 victory and hand India the perfect start.
The early breakthrough allowed India to seize control of the tie.
World No. 38 Manav Thakkar then stepped onto the table carrying more than just expectations. The Indian star competed despite having 13 stitches above his left eye, yet showed little sign of discomfort throughout the contest. Facing Joseph Hunter, Manav displayed exceptional control and attacking precision. He dominated from the outset, winning 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 to double India's advantage and move the hosts within one victory of the final.
The performance highlighted both his physical resilience and mental strength, underlining why he remains one of India's most dependable players.
With India needing just one more point, experienced campaigner Harmeet Desai ensured there would be no late drama. Taking on Benjamin Piggott, Harmeet controlled every aspect of the contest, dictating rallies with his trademark consistency and placement. The veteran wrapped up the match in emphatic fashion, registering an identical 11-5 scoreline in all three games to complete a comprehensive 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 victory.
The result secured India's 3-0 triumph and confirmed another dominant outing for the top seeds.
Remarkably, the Indian men have now reached the final without conceding a single individual match throughout the tournament, demonstrating both their quality and remarkable consistency.
Unlike the men's tie, the women's semifinal demanded greater resilience from the Indian team. Commonwealth Games medallist Sreeja Akula gave India the ideal start with a commanding performance against Cheuk Lam Jasmin Wong. Sreeja's aggressive attacking game proved too strong for her English opponent as she cruised to an 11-6, 11-3, 11-9 victory, putting India ahead in the tie.
England responded immediately through their experienced star Tin-Tin Ho, who defeated Yashaswini Ghorpade in straight games 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 to level the semifinal at 1-1.
For the first time in the contest, India found themselves under pressure.
With the momentum shifting towards England, Syndrela Das produced one of India's most important performances of the day. Facing Anna Green, Syndrela played with confidence and composure, controlling the pace of rallies while capitalising on her opponent's unforced errors. She secured an impressive 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 victory, restoring India's lead and leaving the hosts just one win away from another team final.
The victory once again demonstrated Syndrela's growing maturity in high-pressure situations and her increasing importance within the Indian women's setup.
The responsibility of securing India's place in the final once again fell on Sreeja Akula. Standing across the table was Tin-Tin Ho, fresh from her victory over Yashaswini and full of confidence.
The resulting contest proved to be the most entertaining match of the semifinal. Sreeja took the opening game 11-8, only for Ho to respond by winning the second 11-5. The Indian regained the lead with an 11-6 third game before Ho forced a decider by claiming the fourth 11-8. With the semifinal hanging in the balance, Sreeja produced her best table tennis when it mattered most.
Holding her nerve during the closing stages of the fifth game, she edged a tense decider 11-9 to complete a thrilling 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 victory and send India into the final. Her two victories in the tie once again highlighted her leadership and ability to deliver under pressure.
India's reward for the semifinal victories is a fascinating double final against Malaysia. The Malaysian women booked their place after edging Australia 3-2 in a closely contested semifinal, while the men's team also secured victory to set up another India-Malaysia showdown. Both finals promise to be highly competitive.
India will enter as favourites given their performances throughout the tournament, particularly the men's unbeaten run, but Malaysia possess enough experience and quality to challenge for both titles.
The twin final appearances underline the strength of Indian table tennis across both men's and women's competitions. With experienced campaigners such as Harmeet Desai and Sreeja Akula combining with the brilliance of Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah and Syndrela Das, India has showcased impressive depth throughout the championships.
Having defeated England with authority, both teams now stand just one victory away from reclaiming the Commonwealth team crowns. Playing in front of home supporters at the Thyagaraj Stadium, India will be determined to convert these outstanding semifinal performances into a memorable double gold finish at the 2026 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships.
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