Following the women paddlers’ historic feat India’s men’s team also ensured a bronze medal with a convincing 3-1 victory in the quarterfinals against hosts Kazakhstan at the Asian TT Championships on Wednesday. 

It will be the third time the men’s team confirmed a bronze at the event, after winning bronze in 2021 (Doha) and 2023 (Pyeongchang).

India will now play the winners of the quarterfinal between Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong for a spot in the final.

The 24-year-old Manav Thakkar, the youngest paddler in the squad gave India a splendid start with a straight victory (11-9, 11-7, 11-6) against the world’s 46th-ranked Kirill Gerassimenko. Kirill reached the Round of 16 at the Paris Olympics.

The youngster from Surat who won the season’s first national-ranking tournament last month, was at his attacking best and gave his opponent absolutely no chance to come back into the match. His forehand attack across the table was sublime and he varied the pace brilliantly too.

Harmeet Desai however lost in the second match while Sharath Kamal humbled Aidos Kenzhigulov to give the men’s team the lead going into the final match of the tie.