India women's team beats Ukraine 3-2 to seize control of Group 6 at World Team Championships

Key facts

• India women defeated Ukraine 3-2 in Group 6 on April 29.
• Manika Batra (World No. 49) beat Tetyana Bilenko 3-1 (11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5).
• Margaryta Pesotska (World No. 51) defeated Yashaswini Ghorparde in five games, tying the match at 1-1.
• Diya Chitale beat Veronika Matiunina 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-6) to put India ahead 2-1.
• Pesotska then defeated Batra 3-1 (11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6) to level again.
• Ghorparde sealed the tie by beating Bilenko 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7).
• India men's team also won 3-2 against Slovakia in Group 7, topping their group.
• The championships run until May 10, with 64 teams in 16 groups per event.

India women edge Ukraine in tense group-stage clash

India's women's team kept their World Team Championship Finals hopes alive with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Ukraine in Group 6 on Wednesday, April 29. The win lifts India to a dominant position in the group, setting up a decisive final fixture against Rwanda on Thursday. The match swung back and forth across five rubbers, with both sides trading blows. World No. 49 Manika Batra opened for India, overcoming an early wobble to defeat Tetyana Bilenko 3-1 (11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5) and give India the lead.

Pesotska levels, Chitale restores advantage

Ukraine's World No. 51 Margaryta Pesotska then faced Yashaswini Ghorparde in the second rubber. After losing the first two games, Ghorparde stormed back with a dominant 11-1 third game, but Pesotska held her nerve in the decider to win 3-2 and tie the overall score at 1-1. India's Diya Chitale responded with a controlled performance against Veronika Matiunina, combining sharp placement with relentless tempo to win 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-6). India led 2-1.

Batra falls to Pesotska, Ghorparde seals the tie

Pesotska returned to face Batra in the fourth rubber and won 3-1 (11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6), squaring the match at 2-2. The decisive fifth rubber saw Ghorparde face Bilenko again. Ghorparde prevailed 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7), clinching the tie for India. The victory puts India in a commanding position in Group 6. They will face Rwanda in their final group fixture on Thursday, with the winner likely advancing to the main draw as group topper.

Men's team also victorious, topping Group 7

Later on Wednesday, India's men's team defeated Slovakia 3-2 in their Group 7 tie, climbing to the top of the group standings. They will next face Guatemala. The men's and women's events each feature 64 teams divided into 16 groups of four. The championships, first staged as a standalone competition in 2000, are being held at the Copper Box Arena on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London and will conclude on May 10.

Stage 1B concludes with 24 teams advancing

Over the weekend of May 2-3, Groups 1 and 2 will play in Stage 1A, while Groups 3-14 have already completed Stage 1B. After four days of action, 24 men's and 24 women's teams have qualified from Stage 1B to Stage 2. Group winners advancing directly to Stage 2 include Egypt (Group 3), Hong Kong China (Group 4), Brazil (Group 5), India (Group 6), Sweden (Group 7), Serbia (Group 8), DPR Korea (Group 9), Portugal (Group 10), Wales (Group 11), and the USA (Group 12). Runners-up such as the Netherlands, Ukraine, Canada, Luxembourg, and Malaysia also secured Stage 2 berths, while others like Belgium, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Poland, and Australia face a Preliminary Round play-off on Friday night.

China aims to defend titles as rosters are unveiled

China's men's and women's teams are preparing to defend their titles at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London. The Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) recently unveiled the national team roster for the event. An analyst noted that the Chinese men's team faces stern challenges from contenders, though the women's team remains formidable. The ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 opened in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, marking the first mixed team event of the cycle.

The bottom line

• India women's team beat Ukraine 3-2 in Group 6, with Ghorparde winning the decisive rubber.
• India now faces Rwanda on Thursday to determine group winner and main draw qualification.
• India men's team defeated Slovakia 3-2 to top Group 7 and will next play Guatemala.
• Stage 1B concluded with 24 teams per gender advancing; Stage 1A runs May 2-3.
• China's men's and women's teams aim to defend titles; roster announced by CTTA.
• The championships run until May 10 at the Copper Box Arena in London.