Astana (Kazakhstan): India created history by winning three medals in the Asian Table Tennis Championship held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. This also includes the historic bronze medal in women’s doubles. On Sunday, the dream journey of Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee ended in the semi-finals.
The world No. 15 pair, who stunned reigning world champions China during their Asian Games bronze medal win last year, were beaten 4-119 by Japan’s Miwa Harimoto and Miyu Kihara in the last four in less than 30 minutes. 11 Had to face defeat by 8-11.
Earlier, the Indian pair had defeated South Korea’s Kim Nayong and Lee Yunhee in the quarter-finals to ensure India’s first women’s doubles medal in the Asian meet. The Indian women’s team had earlier won a historic bronze medal in the team event.
The trio of Manika Batra, Ayahika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee won the country’s first medal in the women’s team category since the competition began in 1972, although they ultimately lost 1–3 to Japan in the semi-finals.
In the men’s category, India secured its third consecutive bronze medal in the tournament when the team of Achanta Sharath Kamal, Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai lost 0-3 to Chinese Taipei in the semi-finals. In men’s singles, Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah lost in the pre-quarterfinals.
World number 60 Thakkar, who had earlier defeated world number 14 Jung Woojin of South Korea, was defeated by Hong Kong’s Baldwin Chan 4-11 4-11 8-11. Meanwhile, Manush gave a tough fight to Lin Yun-Ju of Chinese Taipei and after winning two games, lost 8-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6, 12-14.
