Indian soft tennis players Aadhya Tiwari and Jay Meena were eliminated from the Asian Games mixed doubles event in the round of 16 after a 2-5 loss to the Philippines pair. They had qualified for the knockout stage by finishing second in their group with two wins.
Indian tennis greats Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza have filed nominations for the AITA Sports Person of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections, seeking representation in the General Body and Executive Committee. Notably, Leander Paes surprisingly did not file his nomination for the November 7 polls, making him ineligible to run for AITA Presidency. The SOM framework aims to integrate sportspersons into the governance of national sports federations.
Karan Singh secured the men's singles title at the USD 30,000 ITF Men's World Tennis Tour M25 tournament in Mumbai on Sunday. His opponent, Digvijay Pratap Singh, retired in the second set, with Karan leading 7-5, 3-1. This marks Karan's fourth title of the 2026 season and his second in the last two months.
India's Manush Shah and Diya Chitale secured a bronze medal in the mixed doubles table tennis event at the Asian Games after a 0-4 loss to China in the semifinals. This marks India's first table tennis medal at the current Games and only the second mixed doubles medal in Asian Games history, following Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra's bronze in Jakarta.
India's Manush Shah and Diya Chitale secured a historic medal in mixed doubles table tennis at the Asian Games by defeating Hong Kong's world No. 4 pair. This marks India's second mixed doubles medal in Asian Games history. While other Indian paddlers faced early exits in various categories, Shah also advanced in men's singles and Yashaswini Ghorpade in women's singles.
India is sending a 17-member contingent, led by table tennis player Syndrela Das and swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu, to the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. The team will compete in 11 sports, with athletes like Sarthak Arya viewing the event as a crucial stepping stone for future Olympic aspirations. IOA president P T Usha highlighted the Games' importance for developing future Indian champions.
Indian table tennis players, including top seed Manush Shah and Harmeet Desai, showcased strong performances at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, with a majority of home players advancing to the pre-quarterfinals in both men's and women's singles, despite a few setbacks.
Jay Meena, once a mischievous schoolboy rusticated for a prank, has made history by winning India's first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis. His journey from a troubled youth to a bronze medallist at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is a testament to destiny and the guidance of his coach. Meena hopes his achievement will boost the sport's profile in India and pave the way for its inclusion in future events like the Commonwealth Games.
Jay Meena's historic run ended with a bronze, but he leaves Nagoya having achieved something no Indian soft tennis player had managed before.
Indian table tennis mixed doubles pair Diya Chitale and Manush Shah secured a coveted Asian Games medal, overcoming a recent slump in form and the personal tragedy of Diya's coach Peter Engel's death. Their triumph is seen as a fitting tribute to Engel and fuels India's hopes for an Olympic medal in the future.
Jay Meena secured India's first-ever soft tennis medal at the Asian Games, winning a bronze after a hard-fought semifinal loss to Japan's Takuya Kurosaka. Meena, playing in his third Asian Games, showed resilience but ultimately settled for bronze.
The Indian table tennis team, featuring strong contenders like the men's doubles pair of Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar, has commenced its Asian Games campaign in Nagoya with aspirations of securing at least one medal. Both men's and women's teams are in Group F, facing Indonesia and other opponents. The team, a mix of experienced players and rising stars like Syndrela Das, is confident after acclimatising to the conditions.
Indian table tennis players Manush Shah and Diya Chitale defeated Hong Kong's World No. 4 pair Doo Hoi Kem and Wong Chun Ting in the quarterfinals of the Asian Games mixed doubles event, assuring India of a medal. This marks India's first table tennis medal at the current edition and only the second mixed doubles medal in Asian Games history. They are set to face China in the semifinals.
Ravi Baby Sahana and Prachi Pandey created history by becoming India's first para table tennis players to secure medals in the standing category at the Asian Para Games. India clinched a total of four bronze medals in the event, surpassing its previous medal tally. Paralympics medallists Bhavina Patel and Sonalben Patel also contributed to the country's success.
Rohan Bopanna, India's former world number one doubles player, has been excluded from the AITA's Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) roster. This exclusion is due to his failure to meet the mandatory one-year retirement criterion, as he announced his professional retirement on November 1, 2025, just shy of the October 16, 2026, deadline for the roster. Despite inquiring about his eligibility and receiving initial assurance, his continued participation on the Pro ATP tour until October 2025 meant he was still considered active.
Indian table tennis players had a strong showing at the Asian Games, with two women's doubles pairs, Sreeja Akula-Syndrela Das and Yashaswini Ghorpade-Diya Chitale, reaching the pre-quarterfinals. In men's singles, Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar also advanced to the next rounds.
India's men's and women's table tennis teams have both secured their spots in the quarterfinals of the Asian Games after achieving dominant 3-0 victories over their Pakistani counterparts.
The third and final edition of the Chennai Open WTA 250 tournament begins, offering Indian wild card entrants Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalapalli, and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi a crucial last opportunity to earn ranking points on home soil. The tournament marks India's exit from the WTA main Tour calendar, making it a significant event for the local players to test their skills against an international field, despite a depleted draw due to withdrawals.
'We were the best team in Asia at one point. Today, we are barely in the reckoning for the Davis Cup.' 'Players now, especially this decade, lack perseverance.'
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar lauded American tennis player Ben Shelton's thrilling five-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open quarter-finals, while also expressing sympathy for Alcaraz's tough luck after returning from injury.
Soft tennis player Jay Meena, marathon runner Sawan Barwal, and air pistol shooter Kamaljeet share their personal journeys and challenges leading up to their medal wins at the Asian Games. Meena recounts how school rustication led him to soft tennis and his struggle with quarterfinal defeats. Barwal discusses the mental pressure of switching to marathon running, while Kamaljeet reflects on injury setbacks and the pressure of securing India's first shooting gold at the Games.
India faces a challenging Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya with a significantly smaller contingent of 168 athletes, down from 303. While aiming to build on its record 111-medal haul from the last Games, selection disputes in para-shooting and para-cycling, coupled with reduced athlete numbers in key disciplines like para-athletics, pose hurdles. Despite these challenges, star athletes across para-athletics, archery, para-badminton, shooting, and table tennis are expected to lead India's medal charge.
The KSLTA World Tennis Junior J30 Bengaluru is set to begin with qualifying rounds, offering promising young Indian tennis players a chance to compete for main draw berths. The event, hosted by the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association, will feature both boys' and girls' qualifying draws, with wildcards providing local talent an opportunity to gain international experience and ITF Junior ranking points.
South Korean male professional tennis players face a unique challenge: mandatory military service, which interrupts their careers for 18 months. This article explores how players like Seong-chan Hong, Hyeon Chung, and Soonwoo Kwon adapt to this obligation, with some earning exemptions through sporting achievements while others navigate a return to the professional circuit after their service.
Indian tennis icon Leander Paes is poised to contest the presidency of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), backed by the Bengal Tennis Association. This sets up a potential three-way battle against current Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal and interim president Chintan Parikh, pending Paes's success in the Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) election.
Rohit Rajpal, India's Davis Cup captain, has hinted at stepping down from his role despite his contract running until 2026, stating that "every good thing comes to an end." He expressed readiness to ensure a smooth transition for his successor and believes a new captain could offer fresh perspectives. Rajpal also outlined his vision for Indian tennis, which includes a player-centric approach and a bid for the AITA presidency, aiming to develop talent and bring major international tournaments back to India.
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal has progressed to the men's singles quarterfinals at the Asian Games after defeating Sergey Fomin. However, fellow Indian Dhakshineswar Suresh was eliminated in the third round. In men's doubles, the pair of N Sriram Balaji and Anirudh Chandrasekar lost their quarterfinal match, while another Indian duo is yet to play.
Indian tennis legend Leander Paes has been appointed Player Ambassador of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF). In this role, Paes will work to promote tennis across Asia, mentor young players, support grassroots development, and represent the federation at international events, aiming to inspire the next generation of athletes.
Top Indian athletes like PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, Neeru Dhanda, and Harmanpreet Singh have been nominated by their respective National Sports Federations to the electoral college for the Indian Olympic Association's Athletes Commission polls on November 3. The article details the nomination process, eligibility criteria, and the composition of the new Athletes Commission, noting the absence of some federations and the exclusion of outgoing members like Mary Kom.
India's men's and women's table tennis teams have both advanced to the finals of the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships after defeating England in their respective semifinals. The men's team secured a dominant 3-0 victory, while the women's team overcame a tougher challenge with a 3-1 win. Both teams are set to face Malaysia in the championship matches.
Indian table tennis has achieved a significant milestone with three doubles pairs entering the top 10 of the ITTF World Rankings. Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah reached World No. 2 in men's doubles, while Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade are World No. 10 in women's doubles, and Diya Chitale and Shah are World No. 5 in mixed doubles. This marks the first time India has had three doubles pairs simultaneously in the top 10, underscoring the nation's growing strength in the sport, especially with doubles returning to the Olympics in 2028.
Former Indian tennis greats Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza, and Rohan Bopanna, along with other prominent sportspersons, have applied for Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) positions within the All India Tennis Association (AITA). This move aligns with new national sports governance rules aimed at increasing sportsperson representation in federations. The AITA received 26 applications, and the selection process for SOM representatives is expected to conclude on November 5, with AITA elections scheduled for November 27.
14-year-old Jensi Kanabar, a wildcard entry, made a significant impact at the WTA 250 Chennai Open, pushing a higher-ranked opponent to three sets. Her inspiring journey is largely due to the unwavering dedication of her father, Dipakbhai Kanabar, who sacrificed his career to support her tennis dreams, building a network of support and even arranging practice facilities. Her achievements have been recognised in her hometown, with a tennis court named in her honour.
Vaishnavi Adkar, India's women's tennis number one, is leveraging her distinctive heavy topspin forehand as a key weapon in her game. The 21-year-old, currently ranked 344, aims to break into the world's top 200, a goal she believes is achievable with her unique playing style and structured training. Her recent successes, including an ITF W100 final and a W35 title, highlight her rapid ascent in Indian tennis.
The KSLTA World Tennis Junior J30 tournament is set to host a strong field of India's leading junior players and international youngsters in Bengaluru, offering them a crucial platform to earn ITF Junior ranking points and gain international experience.
Rutuja Bhosale voices her frustration over line calls during the Billie Jean King Cup, while Captain Vishal Uppal reflects on India's performance and looks ahead to the match against Mongolia.
Payas Jain and Syndrela Das have been crowned men's and women's singles champions, respectively, at the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships in Kanpur. The tournament also highlighted the rise of younger players, with several top seeds being eliminated early.
Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade have secured India's first mixed doubles medal at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in 72 years by reaching the semifinals. They defeated South Korea's Park Ganghyeon and Lee Daeun in a thrilling quarterfinal match.
Indian paddlers Jehan Dorab Madan and Shubham Wadhwa secured a bronze medal in the men's doubles MD4 table tennis event at the Asian Para Games. Despite a 0-3 loss to South Korea in their final group match, their overall performance placed them among the top four, earning them a podium finish. Jehan Madan, at 50, became the oldest Indian medallist at the event.
The seventh edition of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) tournament is set to begin in Panaji, featuring top Indian and international players. Indian paddlers like Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah, and Diya Chitale view the tournament as crucial preparation for the upcoming Asian Games, aiming to build momentum and gain competitive experience. The league also introduces an AI-powered review system.
