The Indian Women’s team fought tooth and nail against an accomplished China side but lost 3-2 in spite of achieving some great results at the World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals 2024 on Friday. Ayhika Mukherjee and Sreeja Akula led the Indian team from the front by beating World Number 1 and 2 respectively, but it wasn’t enough as China came from behind to win the tie.
World number 155 Ayhika Mukherjee stunned top ranked player and 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medal winner Sun Yingsha to help India take an early advantage. The Indian, who won the bronze medal at the Asian Games last year in doubles, beat Yingsha 3-1 (10-12, 11-2, 11-13, 6-11) to peg China back.
India’s top-ranked singles player Manika Batra however, lost her tie against world No. 4 Wang Manyu as China came back into the tie.
Sreeja Akula then produced another fantastic result against World number 2 Wang Yidi to regain India’s lead. Akula gave no chance to Yidi as the Indian dominated the display with a convincing score of 3-0 (7-11, 9-11, 11-13).
India only needed a single win from the last two singles ties to win the tie. However, Sun Yingsha got the better of Manika Batra and Wang Manyu downed Ayhika Mukherjee to seal the tie in China’s favour.
The Indian women will play their next match against Hungary on Sunday.
Editors pick
