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| Indian Triumph at WTT Feeder Beirut 2024 Table Tennis Tournament [Source: Wikipedia] |
Indian table tennis player Sathiyan Gnanasekaran clinched victory in the men’s singles event at the WTT Feeder Beirut 2024 tournament held in Lebanon. Ranked 103rd globally, he defeated fellow Indian Manav Vikas Thakkar, world No. 74, in the final with a score of 3-1 (6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4).
Road to the Final:
- Sathiyan's journey included a significant upset in the semi-finals against Chuang Chih-yuan of Chinese Taipei, former world No. 3 and current world No. 39. He won with a score of 3-1 (11-8, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9), demonstrating skill and determination.
Thakkar’s Semi-final Victory:
- Manav Thakkar secured his place in the final by defeating AN Jaehyun of the Republic of Korea in straight games 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 12-10).
Mixed Doubles Final:
- Diya Chitale and Manush Shah emerged victorious against Manav Thakkar and Archana Kamath in an all-Indian mixed doubles final, winning 3-1 (11-6, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6).
Men’s Doubles Final:
- Indian pair Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah faced Cuban duo Jorge Campos and Andy Pereira in the men’s doubles final. The Cuban pair won 3-1 (11-5, 7-11, 11-13, 12-14).
Indian Dominance:
- Indian players showcased their excellence with two all-Indian finals in men’s singles and mixed doubles events, along with impressive performances in other categories.
Manav Thakkar’s Performance:
- Thakkar reached the finals in all three events: Men’s Singles (runner-up), Men’s Doubles (runner-up), and Mixed Doubles (runner-up).
Important Facts for Exams:
- Sathiyan Gnanasekaran is a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
- Manav Thakkar, aged 22, is among the youngest Indian players to achieve a top-100 world ranking in table tennis.
- Diya Chitale, aged 19, made her mark on the international stage by winning the mixed doubles title.