Asian Games 2026: ‘My biggest bet would definitely be doubles’ – Neha Aggarwal Sharma on India’s medal hopes in table tennis

For Neha Aggarwal Sharma, it is hard to miss the difference between this Indian team and the one she was part of in the 2014 Asian Games. The 10-member Indian table tennis contingent is already in Japan, with the Aichi-Nagoya competition for the event starting on September 20. At the forefront is the world number three men’s doubles pair of Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah, while India also has the experience of Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Harmeet Desai and the younger group of Ghorreejsha Akula, Chitale and Syndrela Das.For Neha Aggarwal Sharma, it is hard to miss the difference between this Indian team and the one she was part of in the 2014 Asian Games.“I remember when I played in the 2014 Asian Games, we lost in the quarterfinals. We played against China. It was a close game.”“We lost a few more. I think we weren’t really expected to win medals and it was fine. And now if you look at 2026, let’s say my sport, namely table tennis, we’re going into it as world number three in men’s doubles,” Sharma told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interaction mediated by Sony Sports Network.After 12 years, expectations around Indian table tennis have changed. Sharma sees it not just in rankings and results, but in how players approach international competition.“The improvement that India has seen is phenomenal. And I think the change in mindset is what we need to see for me as an athlete. And now we are witnessing for India, Indian sport in general.”For table tennis specifically, though, Sharma doesn’t suggest the job is done. India moved up the rankings, won at the WTT Feeder level and started collecting medals at Contenders. However, consistency is still lacking against China, Japan and Korea.“We’re winning at, say, the WTT level, we’re winning feeders. Now we’re winning medals at Contenders, we’ve also had some good performances at (WTT) Star Contenders. But I don’t think we’re consistently beating China, Japan and Korea.”“You’d see one-off wins here and there. But to really bridge that gap, I think it’s going to take another generation,” says the 2008 Olympian.

Doubles offers the clearest medal opportunity

The strength of this Indian team lies in the doubles events and for Sharma, that is where India can realistically challenge for medals and progress towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.“First we have to start building the story for mixed doubles and men’s and women’s doubles. Why? It’s very simple now in the Olympics. And even if you’re talking from LA’s perspective, those are the events that are our real medal chances.”“So not even putting pressure on Manav, Manush, Dia, Yashaswini, but we do have chances,” India’s former No.1 bowler quipped.India also has a recent Asian Games benchmark in women’s doubles. Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee won historic bronze at the Hangzhou 2022 Games.“Last time, if you remember, Suteertha and Ahika won the bronze in the women’s doubles. So that’s one clear, clear chance for a medal,” Sharma said.

The men’s team has experience around Manav and Manush

The men’s team combines the current form of Manush and Manav with the experience of Sathiyan and Harmeet. Sathiyan has been a mainstay of Indian table tennis for over a decade and Sharma believes his experience can play a role in the team event.“Manush is in fantastic form. Manav has also been doing great and it’s good to see Sathiyan back. He’s had a bit of a slump in the last two years but he’s very, very happy to see him back because his experience will be very important from a team perspective.”The Indian women’s team, meanwhile, has a different task at hand. Sharma recalled the previous games when India lost to Thailand in the round of 16.“I think this time, if we get past that round of 16, once you’re in the quarter-finals, you’ll have China, Japan, Korea and I think Hong Kong or Singapore, one of those four countries, depending on the draw. It’s anybody’s game there I think, so it’s possible.”And he believes that men have a better chance in a team event.“I believe that men have a better chance than women in team competitions.”But when asked where she would place her strongest medal, Sharma returned to doubles.“We can definitely win medals in the team events as well. But my biggest bet would definitely be mixed doubles and men’s and women’s doubles.”

Manik Batra gap

Also conspicuous is the absence in the Indian women’s team. Manika Batra was left out of the Asian Games squad after failing to meet the selection criteria, her absence from domestic events did not feature in the TTFI national rankings. Batra publicly questioned the consistency and transparency of the selection process and asked the federation for a detailed explanation.It left India without one of its most experienced players for the Asian Games – and Sharma was careful not to let the selection line overshadow what the team can do on the court in Japan.“Controversies aside, I think Manika has really cemented her position in world table tennis as someone who can beat anyone at any time.“You can see that she’s stepped up since 2018. And until now, you still see these one-off wins. And speaking of consistency, right? Like Manika, she’s been able to consistently beat the top 20 players in the world.”For Sharma, Batra’s value also comes from her ability to handle pressure and the way her presence can affect opponents.“She is one player who performs well under pressure. You need these players in your team. Secondly, Sreeja is also similar.”But Sharma emphasized that we have to focus on the players who will be in Japan.“We’re going to miss Manika. But yeah, players like her just boost morale in a different way. Even from an opponent’s point of view, you know, someone like her is there. But having said that, I feel like let’s not get into all that.”“Let’s focus on who we have. Sreeja is fresh off a feeder win in Puerto Princesa. I think even someone like Syndrela Das just plays from the heart.”

Divyanshi and Syndrela lead the next generation

Sharma’s argument about the gap with China, Japan and Korea has a broader point. India has players like Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra who have been able to produce results at the highest level.Now Sharma is looking at the teenagers coming through behind them – among them Divyanshi Bhowmick and Syndrela, two players he believes have the game and mindset to eventually challenge the best in Asia.Syndrela is already in Japan with the Asian Games team; Bhowmick figures in Sharma’s assessment of the larger pipeline.“To build a generation of athletes, say Divyanshi Bhowmick or Syndrela Das, right, at the age of 15 and 17, the kind of game they have and the mindset they have, they’re really the ones who can consistently be there at a level where we can beat our top class of China, Japan, Korea.”Sharma pointed to the number of young Indian players now competing in WTT events.“Because I can already see another crop coming. Just the number of players that have increased in terms of participation. I mean there’s a fantastic number of players playing at under-15 and under-17 level at WTT levels.”“They’re spending on their own side and they’re going and going to tournaments. It’s encouraging to see.”And when asked which Indian table tennis players interested her the most at the Games, Sharma went back to Syndrela and the men’s doubles pair.“In table tennis, I’m very excited about… One is Syndrela Das. And the other is that Manav and Manush are either going to get us the men’s doubles. Or in the men’s team to see those wins.”(Watch 2026 Asian Games live and exclusively on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV)