Indian Table Tennis Duo Achieves Historic World Ranking
Historic Achievement in Men's Doubles
On Monday, Indian table tennis players Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah made headlines by reaching World No. 2 in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) men's doubles rankings. This remarkable feat marks them as the highest-ranked Indian pair in the history of senior world rankings.
The duo improved from last week's career-high of World No. 3, breaking the previous national record set by Archana Kamath and Manika Batra, who achieved World No. 4 in women's doubles in 2022, as reported by Olympics.com. Currently, China's Lin Shidong and Huang Youzheng lead the rankings with 5,160 points, while Thakkar and Shah follow closely with 3,390 points. The French Lebrun brothers, Alexis and Felix, who were ranked second last week, have now dropped to fifth, allowing the Indian pair to ascend.
Consistent Performance Pays Off
This achievement is a testament to the consistent performance of Thakkar and Shah over the past year. Under the mentorship of Indian table tennis legend Sharath Kamal, they have solidified their status among the elite with impressive results on the WTT circuit. Their notable performances include a semi-final finish at the 2026 Singapore Smash, a runners-up position at the 2025 WTT Star Contender in Foz do Iguacu, and clinching the title at the 2026 WTT Contender in Lagos, all of which have significantly enhanced their world ranking.
Preparing for the Asian Games
This rise in ranking comes at a crucial time for Indian table tennis, with the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, approaching in less than three months. Thakkar and Shah are anticipated to lead India's men's doubles efforts after narrowly missing a medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, where they were defeated in the quarter-finals by South Korea's then World No. 1 pair, Jang Woo-jin and Lim Jong-hoon.
India's Strength in Table Tennis
As India heads into the 2026 Asian Games, the country boasts strong representation in various doubles events. Diya Chitale and Manush Shah are currently ranked World No. 5 in mixed doubles, while Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade hold the World No. 10 position in women's doubles. In singles, Thakkar is India's highest-ranked men's player at World No. 38, closely followed by Shah at World No. 40. Manika Batra remains the top-ranked women's singles player for India at World No. 51, although she has been named among the reserves for the upcoming Asian Games.
These latest rankings highlight India's rising prominence in international table tennis and serve as a motivational boost as the nation gears up for another significant multi-sport event later this year.