WTT Contender Budapest: Sathiyan, Manika win mixed doubles final: India’s Manika Batra and G Sathiyan outplayed Hungary’s Dora Madarasz and Nandor Ecseki 3-1 to win the mixed doubles title at the WTT Contender on Friday.
They beat the 94th-ranked Hungarian pair 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6.
It was a memorable win for Manika and Sathiyan, who don’t play a lot of mixed doubles together.
Manika had won the Asian Games bronze with veteran Sharath Kamal and more recently they played together at the Tokyo Olympics.
Manika, ranked 60th in singles, had done well to reach the semifinals here. Another impressive performance came from 150th-ranked Indian Sreeja Akula, whom Manika defeated in the quarterfinals.
It was also a welcome result for Sathiyan following his opening round loss in the singles competition at the Tokyo Olympics.
Good Start
Sathiyan and Manika started with a bang as they won the first game 11-9 but slipped in the second to let go the advantage to lose the second 9-11.
However, the Indian pair bounced back in style as they won the third game 12-10 and then went on to close the match by pocketing the fourth game 11-6.
In the Mixed doubles semifinal, Sathiyan and Manika defeated Aleksandr Khanin and Daria Trigolos 11-6, 11-5, 11-4.
Earlier, Manika lost to Elizabet Abraamian 12-10, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 and failed to progress into the women’s singles final.
In the semis, the Indian lost to the reigning European youth champion. In the quarterfinals, Manika beat Sreeja Akula 7-11, 11-1, 8-11, 13-11, 11-6.
In the Men’s doubles semifinal, Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar lost to Vladimir Sidorenko and Kirill Skachkov of Russia 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6.
As It Happened – Mixed Doubles Final
@5:10 PM The Indians have bounced back as Sathiyan and Manika have taken the third set and now lead by 2-1 lead. The match has entered into the fourth game.
@4:51 PM It’s 1-1 as Nandor Ecseki and Dora Madarasz have won the second game 11-9 as the Indians let the advantage slip.
@4:40 PM G. Sathiyan and Manika Batra have won the first Game and have taken a 1-0 lead. The duo won the first one 11-9.
@4:30 PM The mixed doubles match is underway and the Indian pair has taken a two-point lead to begin the final on a bright note.
WTT Contender Budapest 2021: Manika Batra loses in semis, mixed doubles final with Sathiyan about to start, Follow Live updates: – Manika Batra lost to Elizabet Abraamian 12-10, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 and failed to progress into the women’s singles final. In the semis, the Indian lost to the reigning European youth champion.In the quarterfinals, Manika Batra beat Sreeja Akula 7-11, 11-1, 8-11, 13-11, 11-6.
(with PTI inputs)
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