Who are the all-time highest-ranked Indian table tennis players in each category?

Indian table tennis players have dominated the global stage over the past decade.

India’s rapid rise in international table tennis is reflected in its presence across all five major categories: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Over the past decade, Indian paddlers have established their authority on the global stage, compelling fans from around the world to take notice.

In this article, we revisit the highest-ranked Indian table tennis players across all five divisions.

Men’s Singles: Sathiyan Gnanasekaran – 24

Sathiyan Gnanasekaran owns the career-high singles ranking of World No. 24 in 2019, the highest ever for any Indian male paddler. He made history as the first Indian to win an ITTF World Tour title with his triumph at the 2017 Spanish Open and has been instrumental in India’s success at both the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

Further breaking barriers, Sathiyan became the first Indian to sign with the Okayama Rivets in Japan’s T-League and currently represents Jura Morez in France’s PRO-A League.

Women’s Singles: Sreeja Akula – 21

Sreeja Akula’s ascent in Indian table tennis has been truly remarkable. In 2024, she made history by becoming the highest-ranked Indian singles player ever, reaching World No. 21 in the women’s singles rankings at the age of 26. This milestone followed a stellar performance at the Paris Olympics, where she advanced to the round of 16, equalling the best-ever Olympic singles finish by an Indian paddler.

Earlier that year, Sreeja captured the WTT Contender title in Lagos and followed it up with triumphs at the WTT Feeder events in Corpus Christi and Beirut, steadily climbing the world rankings. Her Olympic campaign included a memorable victory over Singapore’s Zeng Jian, solidifying her status as one of India’s brightest stars in the sport.

Men’s Doubles: Achanta Sharath Kamal & Sathiyan Gnanasekaran – 17

The pairing of Achanta Sharath Kamal and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran has been a game-changer for Indian men’s doubles. Combining Sharath’s tactical brilliance and vast experience, including ten Senior National titles and multiple Commonwealth Games medals, with Sathiyan’s speed and flair, the duo has delivered consistent performances on the international stage.

Their synergy earned them medals at both the Commonwealth and Asian Games. A standout moment came at the 2020 Hungarian Open, where their silver-medal finish propelled them into the top 20 of the ITTF men’s doubles world rankings, eventually achieving a career-best ranking of World No. 17.

Women’s Doubles: Ayhika Mukherjee & Sutirtha Mukherjee – 15

Ayhika and Sutirtha Mukherjee have been the silent heroes of Indian table tennis. In 2024, the duo achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 15, the best for an all-Indian women’s pair. Their crowning moment came at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, where they secured India’s first-ever women’s doubles bronze medal.

The biggest win of their career came at the quarter-finals of the Hangzhou Asian Games, where they strunned the World No. 2 pair of Chen Meng and Wang Yidi. The Mukherjees also became the first Indians to win a WTT Contender women’s doubles title, and their tenacity has opened new doors for Indian women in the doubles arena.

Mixed Doubles: Manika Batra & Archana Girish Kamath – 4

In mixed doubles, Manika Batra and Archana Girish Kamath have set the bar, achieving a World No. 4 ranking in April—the highest ever by any Indian pair in any category. 

They accomplished this milestone at the WTT Star Contender Doha 2022, where they claimed the bronze medal, after losing to the Chinese Taipei pair of Li Yu-Jhun and Cheng I-Ching in the semifinals.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram