Xtra Time Web Desk: In a historic moment at the Asian Games 2023, the Indian women’s doubles table tennis team comprising Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee secured a bronze medal by defeating the reigning world champions from China, Meng Chen and Yidi Wang, in the quarterfinals. The Indian duo displayed exceptional skills and determination throughout the four-game contest, clinching victory with scores of 11-5, 11-5, 5-11, and 11-9. This remarkable win not only secured their place in the semifinals but also marked the first-ever medal for India in the women’s doubles event at the Asian Games.
The significance of this achievement is underscored by India’s historical absence from the podium in this category. The Indian team’s triumph over the formidable World No. 2 Chinese pair is a testament to their hard work and prowess in table tennis.
Ayhika and Sutirtha are now set to face the North Korean pair of Suyong Cha and Sugyong Pak in the semifinals, offering a promising opportunity to further elevate India’s presence in the Asian Games table tennis competition. Their achievement stands as a testament to the growing prowess of Indian athletes in international sporting events.
Unfortunately, in the women’s singles table tennis competition, Commonwealth Games gold medalist Manika Batra faced a tough quarterfinal match against world No. 4 Yidi Wang from China and suffered a defeat with a scoreline of 8-11, 12-10, 6-11, 4-11, 14-12, 5-11. This marked the end of India’s singles campaign at the Hangzhou Games.