Diya Chitale & Manush Shah make history by qualifying for WTT Finals 2025
India's Diya Chitale and Manush Shah have etched their names in history by becoming the first Indian pair to qualify for the WTT Finals 2025 in Hong Kong
Hyderabad: India’s table tennis stars Diya Chitale and Manush Shah have made history by becoming the first-ever Indian pair to qualify for the prestigious WTT Finals, the season-ending event that brings together the sport’s very best.
Diya, the reigning National Champion and the highest-ranked Indian paddler at Ultimate Table Tennis Season 6, and Manush, the current Men’s National Champion and one of India’s most consistent international performers, have secured their spots at the WTT Finals 2025, to be held in Hong Kong from December 10 to 14.
The WTT Finals represent the pinnacle of the global WTT Series, featuring only the top-ranked players — the top 16 in Men’s and Women’s Singles and the top eight Mixed Doubles pairs — competing for a total prize pool of USD 1.3 million. It is one of the sport’s most exclusive and high-stakes events.
The qualification of Diya and Manush is a groundbreaking achievement. They are not only the first Indian duo to qualify for the Mixed Doubles category but also the first Indians to ever qualify for any category at the WTT Finals. Their remarkable performances throughout the year, including a historic mixed doubles silver medal at the WTT Star Contender Brazil 2025, have earned them this prestigious spot.
“It’s a huge honor 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. I’m proud to play even a small part in this story, and we’ll give everything to make it a memorable one.”
— Diya Chitale on qualifying for the WTT Finals 2025
The duo’s path to Hong Kong has been paved with a series of exceptional performances throughout the season. Their biggest triumph came at the WTT Contender Tunis (April 2025), where they defeated Japan’s Miwa Harimoto and Sora Matsushima in the final. They followed this with strong showings at the US Smash (July 2025), where they overcame Japan’s Satsuki Odo and Korea’s Oh Junsung, and at the WTT Contender Buenos Aires (July 2025), where they defeated Japan’s Satsuki Odo and Hiroto Shinozuka.
The Mixed Doubles event at the WTT Finals will feature a group stage (with two groups of four pairs), followed by the semifinals. Matches will be played in a best-of-five format. Diya and Manush will face the world’s top-ranked pairs from table tennis powerhouses like China, South Korea, and Japan, carrying India’s hopes on the global stage.
