Diya Chitale, Manush Shah become first Indian table tennis players to qualify for WTT Finals

Diya Chitale and Manush Shah scripted history as the mixed doubles pair became the first-ever Indian table tennis players to qualify for the prestigious WTT Finals - the season-ending showcase that features the sport’s very best.

Diya and Manush, both reigning national table tennis champions, have earned their spot at the WTT Finals 2025, scheduled in Hong Kong China from December 10 to 14, through their rankings.

The Finals mark the culmination of the global WTT Series, featuring only the top-ranked players from the year. Only 16 in men’s and women’s singles, and eight mixed doubles pairs make the cut for the high-stakes events.

The WTT Series Finals Race standings, finalised after the WTT Star Contender Muscat from November 17 to 22, will decide the seven mixed doubles pairs who secure direct qualification for the WTT Finals, while the eighth berth will be reserved for the host nation’s wildcard entry.

As per the rankings released on Tuesday, Diya and Manush are ranked fifth and guaranteed to finish inside the top seven irrespective of future results.

Diya and Manush’s qualification is a significant milestone for Indian table tennis. They became not just the first Indian mixed doubles pair, but the first Indians across any category to ever qualify for the WTT Finals.

Their consistent performances through the year, including a historic mixed doubles silver medal at the WTT Star Contender Brazil, earned them the milestone achievement.

“It’s a huge honour to compete in a Finals event, and an even bigger one to be the first Indians to do so. This moment isn’t just ours, it’s a sign of how much Indian table tennis has grown, and how bright its future looks,” Diya Chitale said. “I’m proud to play even a small part in this story, and we’ll give everything to make it a memorable one.”

The duo’s road to Hong Kong was paved with a string of standout performances across the season.

Their title-winning run at WTT Contender Tunis in April saw them defeat Japan’s Miwa Harimoto and Sora Matsushima in the final.

They followed it up with strong showings at the US Smash in July, where they beat Japan’s Satsuki Odo and the Republic of Korea’s Oh Junsung and at the WTT Contender Buenos Aires in the same month, where they overcame Satsuki Odo and Hiroto Shinozuka of Japan.

The mixed doubles event at the WTT Finals features a group stage (two groups of four pairs) followed by the semi-finals, with matches played in a best-of-five format.

At the WTT Finals 2025 in Hong Kong China, the Indian duo will rub shoulders against the world’s top-ranked pairs from powerhouses such as the People’s Republic of China, South Korea and Japan.

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