After creating history just a day prior, by becoming the first Indian pair to make it the semis of a WTT Star Contender Event, Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah exited the WTT Star Contender Doha, late on Thursday. The World No. 10 bowed down to the second-seeded Chinese pair of Xu Yingbin and Xiang Peng, 9-11, 11-7, 1-11, 11-8, 7-11, but not before giving them a tough fight.
Manav Thakkar/Manush Shah Created History Earlier
It is important to note that Manav Thakkar-Manush Shah were seeded third in the competition, and have slowly risen the ranks, in the past year or so. Earlier, they went past the Hong Kong’s team of Kwan Man Ho and Lam Siu Hang 3-0 in the quarter-finals. With this, the campaign for India in doubles came to an end.
All Eyes on Sreeja Akula Now
But this is not the end of the campaign for India overall in the WTT Star Contender Doha. Sreeja Akula is still alive in the women’s single competition, and will play her pre-quarters match on Friday, vs Qian Tianvi. Earlier, she went past Jieni Shao of Portugal to reach the last 16.
But so far, for the singles players, this has not been the greatest of tournaments. Manav Thakkar had lost his singles match in round of 32, vs Japan’s Sora Matsushima 7-11, 7-11, 8-11. The most popular paddler in the country, Manika Batra also exited in the first round, after she lost to Britt Eerland 1-4.
