Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar: Worrying Singles Form Ahead of 2026 Asian Games

Two key players of Indian table tennis, Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar, are causing concern among experts after a series of heavy defeats in recent WTT events, just weeks before the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. At the WTT Champions Macao in early September, Manush Shah lost to Sweden's Anton Kallberg 0-3 (10-12, 5-11, 6-11). Meanwhile, his teammate Manav Thakkar also failed to advance past the first round, losing to sixth seed Alexis Lebrun of France 1-3 (12-14, 4-11, 11-9, 3-11). Notably, earlier at the WTT Contender Almaty, Manush Shah lost to Russia's Denis Ivonin 0-3 (7-11, 6-11, 9-11). Manav Thakkar had also suffered a 0-3 defeat to Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto at the Europe Smash in August. Despite the disappointing singles results, the duo remains India's biggest hope in men's doubles, where they are ranked world No. 3. Both have been officially named in the squad for the 2026 Asian Games, according to the Table Tennis Federation of India. Detailed analysis shows that in recent matches, Manush Shah often loses close games. He lost the first game 10-12 against Kallberg and also lost narrowly 7-11 against Ivonin. This suggests psychological issues at critical moments. On the other hand, Manav Thakkar won one game 11-9 against Alexis Lebrun, showing he can find temporary tactical solutions, but he cannot maintain consistency throughout the match. From a professional perspective, these defeats are not entirely surprising as their opponents are all top players. Alexis Lebrun was the sixth seed, and Harimoto is a top Japanese player. However, the consecutive losses against foreign opponents serve as a warning sign before a major event like the Asian Games. The only bright spot comes from the doubles event. The world No. 3 ranking of the Manush/Manav pair is a valuable asset, and it is where India can expect medals. Some believe that focusing on doubles may have affected their singles form, as they have to allocate time and energy to both fronts. In their head-to-head records against frequent opponents, there is no evidence of a nemesis. But with current form, Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar need to quickly improve their ability to finish tight games and regain confidence if they want to go deep in the Asian Games. Nevertheless, their official inclusion in the Asian Games squad shows that the coaching staff still has faith in their abilities. Experts suggest that by continuously competing in WTT events, they are accumulating experience and international playing surface familiarity, rather than focusing on closed camps. This could be a deliberate strategy to prepare for the pressures of the Asian Games. Conclusion: The singles form of Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar is a real concern, but it does not end India's hopes in table tennis at the 2026 Asian Games. The men's doubles remains a bright spot, and if they can overcome this difficult phase, success in Japan is still possible.