Thrilling Upsets and Stellar Performances at WTT Star Contender Chennai

Payas Jain caused a major upset at WTT Star Contender Chennai by defeating Sathiyan Gnanasekaran. In doubles, Japan's teams excelled while Sharath Kamal, commencing his farewell event, secured wins in singles and doubles. The tournament offers 600 ranking points and a $275,000 prize pool, attracting top players worldwide.

In a sensational start to the WTT Star Contender Chennai, former U-17 World No. 1 Payas Jain stunned Commonwealth Games medallist Sathiyan Gnanasekaran by eliminating him in the Round of 64. This unexpected victory highlighted a day full of thrilling matches, setting the stage for further excitement.

The top-seeded Japanese pairs, Tomokazu Harimoto and Sora Matsushima, along with Miwa Harimoto and Miyuu Kihara, displayed exceptional skill in dominating their respective doubles matches. Meanwhile, seasoned Indian player Sharath Kamal marked his farewell event triumphantly by defeating qualifier Anirban Ghosh and later partnering with Snehit Suravajjula to secure a dramatic victory against Australia's Nicholas Lum and Finn Luu in a gripping doubles encounter.

Offering a lucrative prize pool of $275,000 and crucial 600 ranking points, the event showcases top-tier global paddlers. The Indian contingent, consisting of Manav Thakkar, Harmeet Desai, and Manush Shah, demonstrated strong performances, with thrilling wins in their singles matches. Ayhika Mukherjee impressed in a keenly contested all-Indian women's singles clash, outlasting her doubles partner Sutirtha Mukherjee in a five-game spectacle.

(With inputs from agencies.)