WTT Star Contender Chennai: Full List of India's Top Participants as Anusha Kutumbale, Syndrela Das get Wildcard Entries

India gears up for a strong showing at the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2026, with hosts securing a record 23 players in the main draw and 33 total entries.

The event, co-hosted by Ultimate Table Tennis, Sharath Kamal Academy, and Stupa Sports AI with SDAT support, runs February 10-15 at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University. It boasts a boosted $300,000 prize purse, directed by table tennis icon Achanta Sharath Kamal, who retired here last year.

Indore's Anusha Kutumbale, who was the finalist in the WTT Feeder event in Vadodara, and Priyanuj Bhattacharyya, who was the WTT Youth Contender Vadodara 2026 U-19 boys' singles champion, headline India's entries.

Youth wild cards shine too: Abhinandh Pradhivadhi (part of India's historic

ITTF World Youth Championship bronze team) in men's singles, and 2025 Asian Youth Champion Divyanshi Bhowmick in women's singles.

India Players with Direct Entries

Manav Thakkar spearheads men's singles, backed by Vadodara Feeder winner Manush Shah, veteran G. Sathyan, and Harmeet Desai. Manush Shah and national champion Diya Chitale, last year's wild card recipients and first Indian pair to reach WTT Finals qualifiers, enter directly this time.

Doubles Wild Cards

Men's doubles: Mudit Dani/Anirban Ghosh (India, Vadodara Feeder runners-up) and Kristian Karlsson/Elias Ranefur (Sweden).

Mixed doubles: Syndrela Das/Payas Jain (India, Vadodara Feeder winners).

Women's doubles: Swastika Ghosh (India)/Sarah De Nutte (Luxembourg).

Sharath Kamal emphasized the wild cards' value: "They give emerging talent a chance to challenge the world's elite. I'm thrilled so many young Indians got spots-they'll thrive on home soil and climb the global ranks. "

WTT Star Contender Chennai 2026 Wild Card Entries

Host Wild Cards

Men's Singles: Anirban Ghosh (IND), Priyanuj Bhattacharyya (IND), Divyansh Srivastava (IND), Remi Betelu (FRA)

Women's Singles: Anusha Kutumbale (IND), Sayali Wani (IND), Kavya Bhatt (IND), Taneesha Kotecha (IND)

Men's Doubles: Mudit Dani/Anirban Ghosh (IND), Kristian Karlsson/Elias Ranefur (SWE)

Women's Doubles: Swastika Ghosh (IND)/Sarah De Nutte (LUX)

Mixed Doubles: Syndrela Das/Payas Jain (IND)

WTT Youth Nominations

Men's Singles: Abhinandh Pradhivadhi (IND)

Women's Singles: Divyanshi Bhowmick (IND)