New Delhi: In a riveting encounter at the World Table Tennis Team Championships, Indian paddlers Ayhika Mukherjee and Sreeja Akula delivered remarkable performances against the world’s top-ranked players, Sun Yingsha and Wang Yidi. Despite the spirited efforts, India fell short, losing 2-3 to defending champions China on Friday.
Ayhika Mukherjee, ranked 155 globally, set the tone by pulling off a sensational victory against the world number one, Sun Yingsha. She secured a hard-fought win with a scoreline of 12-10, 2-11, 13-11, 11-6, giving India an early 1-0 lead in the contest.
Following suit, Commonwealth Games medallist Sreeja Akula showcased her prowess with a dominant performance against Wang Yidi. Sreeja claimed victory with a convincing 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 13-11) score, further boosting India’s position in the tie.
However, India’s top-ranked player, Manika Batra, faced disappointment as she dropped both her matches. Batra lost to world number four Wang Manyu with a scoreline of 3-11, 8-11, 15-13, 7-11, and then succumbed to Sun Yingsha with a score of 3-11, 6-11, 13-11, 9-11.
With the tie leveled at 2-2, Manika Batra, unable to replicate her opening-match success, faced defeat in straight games against Wang Manyu, with a final score of 9-11, 11-13, 6-11.
Despite the setback, the Indian paddlers displayed commendable grit and skill against the formidable Chinese team, making their presence felt on the world stage.
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