Kanak Jha Wins Sixth U.S. Men’s Singles Championship, Ties National Record
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by Joshua Dyke
Singles: Kanak Jha during the men's singles final against Nandan Naresh at the 2025 U.S. National Table Tennis Championships. Ontario, Calif. July 1, 2025. (Photo by USATT/Rich London)
Ontario, Calif. – Kanak Jha has claimed his sixth U.S. National Men’s Singles Championship with a commanding victory over Nandan Naresh, winning in five games (11-5, 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8).
It was the first-ever meeting between Jha and Naresh, and the match opened with both players gauging each other’s playing styles. Once settled, Jha delivered a clinical performance, showcasing his continuously improving forehand and exceptional defensive play.
Naresh managed to take the fourth game, aided by his impressive service game, he briefly shifted the momentum. Reflecting on the moment, Jha said, “In table tennis things can turn very quickly. Even at 3-1, I knew how the tides can change. I tried to just keep focused, keep positive, and I was happy to seal it in the fifth set because it could get dicey if it goes to six.
With the fifth game secured, Jha closed out the best-of-seven series to take his sixth national title. After the match, he reflected on the dedication behind his success:
“It’s just so important to work hard. I’m not the most talented, I’m not the biggest, not the strongest, but I work incredibly hard, and with that, you can achieve anything. Now I stand with the top in the world, and I’m sure more American kids can follow if they pursue their dream.”
This latest title ties Jha with David Zhuang for the most U.S. Men’s Singles national championships. Zhuang captured his first title in 1994 at age 31 and remained dominant through 2008.
At just 25 years old, Jha is entering his prime. With four straight titles from 2016 to 2019, starting at age 16, and now winning his sixth, he remains on pace to challenge the all-time singles win record held by Insook Bhushan, who won 11 women’s singles titles between 1977 and 1991
“It means a lot to me. I mean, there are certain tournaments like the U.S. National that are legacy events. This is incredibly important for me. I want to keep stacking these titles up as long as I can. You never know when it'll be my last one. I'm just appreciative now, and I hope to continue to win in the future.”
A former world no. 19 and currently one of the most accomplished table tennis stars in the U.S., it feels like it’s just the beginning and Jha’s journey is far from over.
