WTT Star Contender Astana 2026: where and how to watch

The WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 will be held at the Martial Arts Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan from September 15 to 20 and will feature 160 players from 29 countries. The tournament carries a $300,000 prize pool and comprises five events: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

The tournament is part of the WTT Star Contender series and appears on the official ITTF/WTT calendar. The opening ceremony is scheduled for September 15, with main playing days from September 16 to 18 and final matches on September 19 and 20. Organisers say the entry list includes several top international players, making it one of the biggest events on the international table tennis calendar.

France’s Alexis Lebrun is the top seed in the men’s singles, with Germany’s Dang Qiu listed directly behind him. Those two lead the men’s singles draw among the entries confirmed for Astana. The men’s singles field will contest progression through the standard draw format used at WTT events.

China’s Wang Yidi occupies the top seed in the women’s singles, with Japan’s Satsuki Odo seeded second. They head the women’s singles entries submitted for the tournament. The women’s draw will determine match-ups across the scheduled competition days.

Manika Batra will represent India in the women’s singles, while Anusha Kutumbale and Sayali Wani will also compete. The Indian contingent will be looking to make an impact against a strong international field. Those three join the wider entry list of 160 players from 29 countries.

Fans in India can follow the WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 via the World Table Tennis website and WTT’s official digital platforms, subject to regional broadcast restrictions. Individual match coverage may vary depending on territorial broadcast rights. Worldwide viewers can also access coverage through the World Table Tennis website and official WTT streaming platforms, subject to regional availability.

In Kazakhstan, the tournament will be televised on Qazsport, whose schedule lists live coverage including the qualifying sessions. Television coverage for viewers in other countries will depend on local broadcast rights and regional partners. Further broadcast details will be determined by those territorial agreements.

The event opens with an on-site ceremony on September 15; main competition runs September 16-18 and the final matches are scheduled for September 19 and 20 at the Martial Arts Palace in Astana.