In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the Indian women’s table tennis team showcased their mettle at the Asian Table Tennis Championships. While they ultimately finished in the sixth position, their journey was filled with ups and downs that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The Indian women began their journey by facing Singapore in a 5-8 positions match. Manika Batra set the tone by dominating her opponent, Jingyi Zhou, with a scoreline of 11-9, 11-3, 11-6. However, Sreeja Akula faced a tough challenge from Jian Zeng and suffered a loss with scores of 7-11, 6-11, 7-11, which gave Singapore a fighting chance. The tide turned back in India’s favor when Ayhika Mukjerjee secured a win against Ru Xin Wong, giving India a 2-1 lead.
In the reverse singles, Manika Batra fought valiantly but couldn’t overcome Jian Zeng, losing 8-11, 6-11, 7-11, putting immense pressure on Sreeja Akula. Sreeja rose to the occasion and pulled off an impressive victory against Jingyi with scores of 12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 11-6, rekindling India’s hopes.
However, Thailand proved to be a formidable adversary. Suthasini Sawettabutt defeated Sreeja with a scoreline of 11-6, 11-5, 11-6, and Orawan Paranang overcame Manika 11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6. Despite Diya Chitale’s spirited efforts, Wanwisa Aueawiriyayothin clinched the fifth position with a score of 15-13, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8 for Thailand.
The Indian paddlers also faced a challenging battle in the mixed doubles category. G Sathiyan and Manika Batra, after a fierce contest, succumbed to the Thai pair of Phakpoom Sanguansin and Orawan Paranang with a score of 2-3 (11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 9-11). During the match, Manika’s resilience was on full display as she continued despite twisting her ankle and needing a 10-minute medical attention break.
Harmeet Desai and Sreeja Akula also gave their all but couldn’t overcome the top-seeded Japanese pair of Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata, losing 6-11, 7-11, 8-11 in a Round of 32 encounter.
However, it wasn’t all heartache for the Indian contingent. In their first-round match, the Indian duo beat the Malaysian pair of Shen Qi Wong and Xin Ai Tee with scores of 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, showcasing their potential and resilience.
While the Indian women’s team may have faced its share of challenges, their determination and spirited performances at the Asian Table Tennis Championships are a testament to their commitment to the sport. As they continue to hone their skills and compete on the international stage, Indian table tennis fans can look forward to more thrilling encounters in the future.
Stay tuned as the Indian men’s team, already assured of a bronze medal, gears up to face Chinese Taipei in the semifinals, promising yet another exciting chapter in the championship.https://www.sportiwe.com/
