India made a powerful statement on the international table tennis stage at the WTT Contender Lagos 2025, with standout performances that left fans in awe and the competition firmly behind.
Held at the Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall in Lagos, Nigeria, the tournament saw Olympian Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and rising star Akash Pal dominate the men’s doubles, while Sreeja Akula lit up the women’s singles draw with a remarkable silver medal finish.
Dominant Gold for Sathiyan and Akash in Men’s Doubles
The Indian pair of Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Akash Pal were in unstoppable form throughout the tournament. They capped their flawless run with a 3-0 sweep (11-9, 11-4, 11-9) against France’s Leo de Nodrest and Jules Rolland in the final — sealing the men’s doubles title in just 22 minutes.
Their road to gold was nothing short of impressive:
- Defeated Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo and Azeez Solanke 3-1 in the opening round.
- Outclassed third seeds Wassim Essid (Tunisia) and Remi Chambet-Weil (Netherlands) 3-1 in the quarters.
- Breezed past Ghana’s James Marfo and Emmanuel Commey with a swift 3-0 win in the semis, taking only 13 minutes.
Their synergy, aggressive plays, and calm under pressure marked them as the standout pair of the event.
Sreeja Akula’s Stunning Run Ends in Silver
While the men stole the doubles spotlight, Sreeja Akula was the heart of the tournament in the women’s singles category. Ranked world No. 57, the Indian Olympian battled her way to the final, defeating a string of higher-ranked opponents in one of the most inspiring runs of her career.
Her journey included:
- A sensational upset over Olympic bronze medallist and top seed Hina Hayata of Japan.
- A confident win over Italy’s Debora Vivarelli in the round of 16.
- A straight-set triumph over Portugal’s seventh seed Shao Jieni in the quarter-finals.
- A thrilling semifinal victory against world No. 27 and fourth seed Prithika Pavade of France.
However, in the final, Sreeja faced a tough challenge against Japan’s world No. 19 Honoka Hashimoto, eventually falling 4-1 (11-7, 11-3, 11-4, 9-11, 11-13). Still, her silver was a monumental achievement and a testament to her growth and grit on the international stage.
Mixed Doubles: A Close Finish for Akash Pal and Poymantee Baisya
Adding to the medal count, Akash Pal also partnered with Poymantee Baisya in the mixed doubles, where the Indian duo reached the final after a solid campaign. Despite a strong start, they fell just short of gold, losing 3-1 (12-10, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7) to the French team of Jules Rolland and Prithika Pavade.
India’s Growing Footprint in Global Table Tennis
The WTT Contender Lagos 2025 was more than just a tournament — it was a showcase of India’s rising dominance in global table tennis. From gold in the men’s doubles to a thrilling silver in singles and mixed doubles, Indian athletes showed they are ready to challenge the best in the world.
As the sport continues to grow across continents, performances like these not only elevate national pride but also inspire the next generation of players back home.
India has arrived — and it’s just getting started.
