Sharath and Manika will be the focus of attention among Chinese heavyweights at WTT Star Contenders Goa

Olympic champions Ma Long and Cheng Meng of China, besides heavyweights from around the world are expected to face tough competition from the likes of India’s Achant Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contenders Goa, starting here on Monday. . The 34-year-old Ma Long, a two-time Olympic champion, is widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest athletes of all time. In the men’s singles, he will be joined by compatriot and top-ranked Fan Zhendong.

With reigning women’s world champion Wang Manyu of China and world number three Wang Chuqin also getting wild cards in the men’s category, China is expected to clean sweep both the men’s and women’s events. In the men’s section, the Indian challenge will be led by Commonwealth Games gold medalist Sharath Kamal, with Wesley do Rosario and G Sathiyan also contesting in the main round. In the women’s section, besides Manika, who is ranked 34th in the world, Srija Akula and Suhana Saini will also challenge in the singles section.

After qualifying events on Monday and Tuesday, the main round will begin on March 1. Apart from Sharath Kamal and Sathiyan, the pair of Harmeet Desai and Manav Vikas Thakkar will lead the Indian challenge in the men’s doubles main draw. In women’s doubles, Manika and Archana will be seen in action alongside Girish Kamath, Sreeja Akula and Diya Parag Chitale. Three Indian pairs will contest in the main draw of the mixed doubles. Apart from the pairing of Manika and Sathiyan, it features the pair of Thakkar and Archana and Suhana Saini and Rosario.