India’s table tennis women make history, securing nation’s first-ever medal at Asian Championships
In a groundbreaking achievement, the Indian women’s table tennis team comprising Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Ayhika Mukherjee, Suthirtha Mukherjee, and Diya Chitale claimed India’s maiden medal at the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. This remarkable feat surpasses India’s previous best performance at the biennial event, which was reaching the quarterfinals.
The Asian Championships are notoriously tougher than the Olympics, particularly in singles, where top Asian teams can field five players, unlike the two-player limit in Paris. This advantage is also reflected in team events, with a stronger pool of singles players to choose from.
India’s team was on a roll in Astana, narrowly missing an upset against Japan in the semifinals. Ayhika Mukherjee, who recently returned to the team following Archana Kamath’s retirement, impressed against 16-year-old Japanese sensation Miwa Harimoto, ranked 7th in the world. Despite being down 1-2, Ayhika showed remarkable composure to take the fourth game 13-11 and even led 7-4 in the decider.
Manika Batra, ranked 29th in the world, then pulled off a stunning upset against Satsuki Odo, ranked 12 spots above her, winning in straight games (11-6, 11-5, 11-8). This leveled the tie at 1-1, with India still in contention.
Although the team ultimately lost to Japan in the semifinals, their bronze medal achievement marks a historic milestone for Indian table tennis. This success is a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication, having spent extra time training in China after the WTT Smash event.
The emergence of new talent, alongside Manika Batra, bodes well for the future of Indian table tennis. The bronze medal has shattered the glass ceiling, and an Olympic medal may not be far off. With coach Massimo Constantini’s target of a medal at the LA Olympics now looking increasingly realistic, India’s women’s table tennis team is poised for even greater heights.
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