Indian paddlers achieve an unprecedented world number two ranking

Indian table tennis competitors Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah officially claimed the World No. 2 spot in men's doubles on Monday. This historic promotion makes them the highest-ranked Indian athletes ever recorded in the senior international list.

Previously, Archana Kamath and Manika Batra held the national record after reaching fourth place in women's doubles four years ago. This current men's doubles breakthrough reflects a broader systemic growth in Indian racquet sports, aided by specialized coaching camps and frequent international training stints. Chinese stars Lin Shidong and Huang Youzheng currently dominate the standings with 5,160 points. Thakkar and Shah sit proudly in second place with 3,390 points. They moved up after the famous French Lebrun brothers unexpectedly dropped from second to fifth place this week.

Constant high-level results fueled this steady climb up the charts. Veteran Sharath Kamal mentored the duo as they claimed the WTT Contender Lagos trophy. They also gathered crucial points by reaching the semi-finals in Singapore and securing a runner-up finish in Brazil.

Building Momentum for Japan

Timing could not be better with the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games starting in less than three months. Supporters hope this pair will capture a medal, redeeming their frustrating quarter-final exit against South Korea in Hangzhou last year.

National depth continues to improve across various categories. Manush Shah and Diya Chitale currently rank fifth in mixed doubles. Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade hold the tenth position in women's doubles. In individual action, Thakkar ranks 38th globally, remaining just two spots ahead of his partner Shah.

Former Commonwealth champion Manika Batra retains her status as the top Indian female singles player at number 51. These combined achievements provide a vital confidence boost for the entire contingent heading into upcoming international showdowns.

Image Courtesy: ANI