The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has provided extensive support worth over Rs 90 lakh to ensure the Indian table tennis team’s participation in the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in London. The event, taking place from April 28 to May 10 at the OVO Arena in Wembley, will see a 19-member Indian contingent, including players, coaches, support staff, and sparring partners, competing.
Leading players like Manika Batra, Gnanasekaran Sathiyan, Manav Thakkar, and Harmeet Desai will represent India in the men’s and women’s competitions. The Indian teams are grouped with various countries for the initial matches, aiming to surpass their previous performance where they reached the knockout stages but exited in the Round of 32 in the 2024 edition.
In preparation for the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships, SAI organized training camps and overseas sessions to enhance the team’s performance. The focus was on improving match readiness and adapting players to European playing conditions under the guidance of coach Massimo Constantini.
