Sunday 12 / January / 2025
Muscat: In thrilling action at the WTT Contender Muscat 2025, Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Guan-Hong, Germany’s Cedric Meissner, Slovenia’s Deni Kozul, and India’s Manush Shah have advanced to the first round of qualifiers ahead of the highly anticipated main draw.
World No. 216 Kuo Guan-Hong showcased exceptional skill, defeating compatriot Chang Yu-An 3-1 (12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8) and Serbia’s Dimitrije Levajac 3-0 (12-10, 11-9, 3-11) to seal his place in the qualifiers.
Germany’s Cedric Meissner displayed dominance in his group, securing victories over Romanian paddlers Martin Allegro (3-1) and Rares Sipos (3-0), setting up an exciting next-round clash against another group qualifier.
Slovenia’s Deni Kozul delivered an impeccable performance in the group stage, defeating Deepash Bhagwani and India’s Mudit Dani in straight sets (3-0) to guarantee his progression to the next stage.
Meanwhile, India’s Manush Shah impressed with a hard-fought 3-1 win against Chinese Taipei’s Su Yu-Lun and a commanding 3-0 victory over Tomas Polansky of the Czech Republic to secure his spot in the upcoming round.
Tough Battles in Women’s Singles
The women’s singles qualifiers were equally intense. India’s Suhana Saini advanced to the next round with two crucial wins, edging past compatriot Yashaswini Ghorpade 3-2 and defeating Croatia’s Hana Arapovic 3-1 in a gripping match.
The tournament boasts a total cash prize of $85,000 and vital ranking points, drawing over 200 participants from 30+ countries, including Australia, China, Germany, India, Japan, and the host nation Oman. Organized by the Oman Table Tennis Association (OTTA) in coordination with World Table Tennis (WTT), the event runs until Friday at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
