Asian Games, Table Tennis: Sutirtha-Aihika Reach Women's Double Semis, Assures At Least Bronze

Sutirtha Mukherjee and Aihika Mukherjee shocked world champion Chinese pair Chen Meng and Yidi Wang to enter the women's doubles semifinals, assuring India a historic table tennis medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Saturday. In the quarterfinals, Sutirtha and Aihika won 11-5, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9 and the victory over World No. 2 Chinese duo is all the more significant because India have never won a medal in the women's doubles event in the Asian Games. The Indian players never allowed their superior opponents to settle down right from the go.

(Asian Games 2023 Medals Tally | Asian Games 2023 Full Schedule)

The Chinese duo was expected to roll over their opponents, and it happened precisely the opposite, as the Indians won the first game in just 8 minutes.

The trend followed in the second game too, as the Indians wrapped it in just 9 minutes as the Chinese players committed several unforced errors, particularly on the forehand.

The home side players mounted a brief fightback, winning the third game.

But the Indians regrouped quickly to assert themselves in the fourth game.

The epic winning moment came when Meng sprayed her forehand into the net.

Earlier, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Manika Batra produced an error-filled game to make an early exit in the quarterfinals of the women's singles table tennis competition.

Manika went down against world No. 4 Yidi Wang of China 8-11, 12-10, 6-11, 4-11, 14-12, 5-11 and her defeat also marked the end of India's campaign in the singles event at the Hangzhou Games.

The ace Indian paddler lost the first game 8-11, as she showed a distinct weakness on her backhand.

Even when she won the second and fifth games, it was more about the Chinese player making unforced errors in her