Indian Women Create History, Win First Ever Medal in Team Event of Asian Table Tennis Championships – News18

The Indian women table tennis stars have created history. On Wednesday, the team won their first-ever medal – a bronze – at an Asian Table Tennis Championships which they secured after a 1-3 defeat to Japan in the semifinals.

This is India’s maiden medal in women’s team event at Asian Championships.

Going first, India’s Ayhika Mukherjee gave a tough fight to Japan’s Miwa Harimoto before losing 2-3 (8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 13-11, 7-11) in Astana (Kazakhstan).

The highly-rated Manika Batra levelled the scores after notching up a 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-8) win over Satsuki Odo in the second match. Next in charge, Sutirtha Mukherjee handed Japan the lead, losing 0-3 (9-11, 4-11, 13-15) against Mima Ito.

The onus was then on Manika to salvage India but she was outplayed by Harimoto, losing 1-3 (3-11, 11-6, 2-11, 3-11).

With Japan taking a 3-1 lead, the last and final match between Ayhika and Odo became inconsequential and was not played.

The team had assured themselves of a first ever medal with a stunning 3-2 win over Paris Olympics bronze medallists South Korea in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

World number 92 Ayhika was the architect of the famous victory as she beat world number 8 Shin Yubin and world number 16 Jeon Jihee in the rubber.

Ayhika and Manika Batra had given India an unexpected 2-0 lead before the South Koreans made it 2-2. Ayhika held her nerve against Jihee to seal the win in the deciding contest.

The women’s team has been producing consistent performances in premier events and had reached the quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics. Ayhika was not part of the team in Paris but back following the unexpected retirement of Archana Kamath, she made all the difference against South Korea.

With PTI inputs