WTT Contender Doha 2023: Batra, Gnanasekaran and Kamal feature in main draw

 

 

Mixed doubles pair of Batra and Gnanasekaran looking to better last year’s runners-up finish in Qatar

Five players will aim to make to the main draw from the qualifying tournament

By Armstrong Vaz

Doha, (Qatar): January 9: India’s Manika Batra will be looking forward to yet another sterling performance at WTT Contender Doha 2023 which takes place at Lusail Sports Arena from 15-21 January.

The 27-year-old, ranked 35 on the ITTF computer is lone Indian to feature in the main draw of the WTT Contender Doha along with 22 other players including last year’s Doha winner Fan Siqi of China.

India’s best hope rest in the mixed’s doubles in which Batra will partner with Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and the pair will feature in the main draw along with ten other pairs.

The Indian pair finished as the runners-up at the 2022 WTT Doha Contender held in January last year and has had an impressive run last year which has seen the two break into the top-five world rankings in mixed doubles. their best-ever rank so far.

Batra currently taking part in the Asian WTTC Continental Stage, have some fond memories from Qatar. Last year at the WTT Star Contender she had an amazing in run in Qatar’s capital Doha reaching the pre quarters in both singles as well as mixed doubles and featured in the semis of the women’s double.

Two other Indian players, Swatika Ghosh and Yashaswini Ghoprade will try to make it to the main draw from the qualifying rounds. 19-year-old Ghosh (World No.243) and 18-year-old Ghoprade ranked 187 will be competing along with 54 others players to make it to the main draw which includes last year’s winner Fan Siqi of China

Doha defending champion Siqi will be looking to go two in a row. With one title and another finalist finish in last year, Siqi is well-equipped to make another deep run when play gets underway. But as World No.27, the defending champ will have to score a series of upsets if she is to negotiate her way to the final.

Standing at the top of the pack is Jeon Jihee of Korea. Despite a whole host of deep runs, Jeon was unable to progress beyond the semifinals in her 2022 campaign. The World No.18 will be eager to start this year on the right foot and defend her top billing in Doha.

The draw should be on high-alert with Jia Nan Yuan of France in the midst. Yuan was on an absolute hot-streak last year, dishing out upsets left, right and centre. Players and fans alike should also take note of Shin Yubin of Korea. Coming in as 3rd seed in Doha, Shin found contender success in 2022 at Nova Gorica. With her ranking rising from No.65 to inside the Top 20 over the past 12 months, the 19-year-old looks to be on course for big things in 2023.

In the men’s section Sharath Kamal, ranked World No 47. and Gnanasekaran (World Ranking 39) and are the two Indian players in the 22 player main draw, while 95 players will be trying their luck in the qualifying rounds including three Indians, Payas Jian (ranked 180), Harmeet Desai (125) and Manush Utpalbhai Shah (100).

World No.37 Yuan Licen of China will defend his WTT Contender Doha 2022 title but will likely find the road to the podium a tough one with plenty of stars standing in his way of back-to-back success.

World No.7 Hugo Calderano of Brazil is going all out in his start to WTT Series 2023. The 'thrill from Brazil' is in action as the top seed at the season opening WTT Contender Durban and will be backing it up as 1st seed in Doha. Winner at Contender Tunis last year, Calderano is maximising his chances of a trophy cabinet expansion in January.

Joining the title hunt will be Jang Woojin of Korea. Having all the tools for WTT Series success, Jang took out Contender Muscat II 2022 and is well within the running in Qatar, entering as World No.18 and fifth highest ranked player in action. Eyes will also be on Andrej Gacina of Croatia who won his first ever international singles title last year and who will be out to add to his Star Contender trophy.