TT dream run continues: Bronze for Sharath-Manika
JAKARTA: The dream run of Indian table tennis contingent continued when the mixed doubles pairing of Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra won a historic bronze medal on Wednesday.
On Tuesday Sharath-led men’s team had secured a bronze, ending India’s 60-yearwait for a maiden table tennis medal at the Asian Games.
Sharath and Manika teamed up in mixed doubles on Wednesday and defeated some quality pairs. In the semi-finals, they lost to China’s Yingsha Sun and Wang Sun 9-11, 5-11, 13-11, 4-11, 8-11. The semi-final was a best of seven games contest while the earlier rounds were played in the usual best of five format.
In the pre-quarterfinal they defeated the strong a South Korean pair of Lee Sangsu and Jeon Jihee 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4. They faced their toughest challenge in North Korean Cha Hyo Sim and An Ji Song for a place in the semi-finals and a guaranteed medal.
Exuding confidence and showing good skills the Indians pulled off a thrilling 11-4, 10-12, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8 victory.
Sharath’s power and Manika’s deceptive play from the pimpled rubber proved too hot for the Koreans to handle
“In mixed doubles, the role of the female player is very important. More often than not, it actually decides who is going to win the match,” Sharath said.
“It has been an unbelievable campaign so far. Not even in my wildest dreams I thought of winning a medal at the Asian Games. Now I have got too. I am still pinching myself,” said Sharath.
They will now compete in individual competition starting Thursday. India had won a whopping eight medals at CWG.