Thakkar and Shah first Indian duo to reach WTT Singapore Smash semifinals

Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah produced a landmark result at the WTT Singapore Smash, becoming the first Indian men's doubles pairing to reach the semifinals of a WTT Grand Smash after their victory over Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Adrien Rassenfosse on February 26, 2026. The result at the Singapore event marks a high-water mark for Indian doubles on the global WTT Grand Smash stage.

Thakkar and Shah, identified in national competition as India’s leading men's doubles pairing, pushed through the draw in Singapore to claim the historic berth in the last four. Their run at the WTT Singapore Smash 2026 places them on a stage where Indian men's doubles have not previously advanced to the semifinal round of a Grand Smash, altering expectations for the pairing and for Indian presence in top-tier WTT events.

Their opponents in the match that secured the milestone were Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Adrien Rassenfosse, a duo that Thakkar and Shah overcame at the Singapore tournament to secure progression. The win at the WTT Singapore Smash directly translated into the semifinal appearance, a breakthrough result at this level of international competition.

The semifinal appearance at the WTT Singapore Smash 2026 gives Thakkar and Shah a chance to further raise the profile of Indian doubles on the WTT circuit. With the pair now scheduled among the last four at a Grand Smash event, their performance will be a reference point for the development of doubles pairing strategies and selections back home. The result in Singapore on February 26, 2026, stands as a concrete milestone for Indian table tennis and sets a new benchmark for future Indian pairings aiming for deep runs at WTT Grand Smash events.