Ace paddler Manika Batra saved the day for India, as the women’s team beat Hungary 3-2 in the World Table Tennis Championships in Busan on Sunday. However, the Indian men’s team lost 1-3 to Poland in their second group game. Manika, meanwhile, won both her singles matches to hand India the victory.
In the opening match of the tie, Manika, the WR-36 player, first beat Dora Madaras 8-11, 11-5, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4. Then Sreeja Akula, who beat the WR-2 Chinese Wang Yidi recently, lost to Georgina Pota 11-3, 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8. Ayhika Mukherkjee gave India the 2-1 lead with a 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 win over Bernadett Balint.
In the fourth singles, it was Sreeja, who lost once again, this time against Madaras 11-4, 11-6, 5-11, 11-7 in the fourth singles. But Manika held her nerves to post an 11-5, 14-12, 13-11 win over Pota. India can still go to the next round, and are due to face Spain and Uzbekistan in the upcoming group matches.
- WTT Star Contender Goa: Indian women’s singles stars impress with surprise wins
- CWG medalist Sreeja Akula wins maiden international title, gets past higher-ranked opponents
- Manika Batra achieves career-best World No.31 in ITTF World rankings
Sharath Kamal & Manav Thakkar Lose
But in the men’s section, it wasn’t a great outing, as only Harmeet Desai could win his match against Macie Kubik 12-10, 13-11, 9-11, 11-5. Sharath and Manav lost their respective matches, while Harmeet lost his second match against Jakub Dyjas 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 12-14.
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