India, 23 December 2025 — Indian table tennis player Sathiyan Gnanasekaran has advanced to the quarterfinals of the ongoing World Table Tennis Championships in Durban, South Africa. Gnanasekaran secured his place in the last eight with a victory over Japan's Koki Niwa on Thursday.
The match, which showcased Gnanasekaran's resilience and skill, ended with scores of 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9. The closely contested encounter highlighted the Indian player's prowess and determination to remain a competitive force on the international stage.
This advancement marks a significant achievement for Gnanasekaran, as he becomes the first Indian male paddler to reach this stage in the World Championships since 2019. His success underscores the growing prominence of Indian athletes in table tennis.
The World Table Tennis Championships is an annual event organized by the International Table Tennis Federation, attracting top talent from around the globe. Gnanasekaran's progress in the tournament adds to India's rising profile in the sport.
The competition continues this week, with Gnanasekaran set to face Sweden's Mattias Falck in the quarterfinals. This encounter is expected to be another challenging test for the Indian paddler.
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