Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar, fresh off a world number two ranking, are eyeing that elusive bronze in the Asiad men’s doubles.
Meanwhile, the Indian contingent of 501 athletes will be housed across a swath of converted shipping containers, a docked cruise ship and a handful of hotels, a setup that has drawn criticism from overseas delegations.
Sharath Kamal, the deputy chef‑de‑mission, says the athletes have already lived in similar environments – from SAI campus containers to a mock cruise ship – and will adapt fast.
Table tennis runs from September 20 to 28, with the men’s doubles opening against the Chinese pair that dominated the world stage.
If the duo can hold their nerve, India will walk away with a medal and a morale boost heading into the final leg of the Games.