WTT Youth Contender Tunis II 2025:
Shirvani stands third in U13 boys’ singles event
Iran’s table tennis prodigy Nikan Shrivani settled for a third-place trophy at the WTT Youth Contender event in Tunis.
Representing the country in the under-13 boys’ singles event in the Tunisian capital, Shirvani enjoyed an emphatic run to the semifinals before suffering a 3-2 loss (9-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7) to Russian Matvei Manankov, who competed as a neutral athlete.
The Russian finished as the runner-up after a 3-1 defeat (8-11, 11-4, 12-10, 15-13) against Kirill Kantaev – also a neutral contestant – in the final showpiece.
Shrivani defeated the host’s trio Aws Riahi, Iyed Tayachi, and Yaakoub Marnissi without conceding a single game to finish atop the Group 2 table and progress to the knockout round.
The Iranian was given a bye in the round of 16, and then defeated Tunisian Moemen Sghaier 3-1 (11-6, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7) in the quarterfinals.
More Iranians will be in action across different age groups on the final day of the WTT event at the Multidisciplinary Hall of Rades today.