Manika, Sreeja, Sharath reach pre-quarters of Asian WTTC Continental Stage
January 11, 2023
Battling from the brink of defeat, National champion Sreeja Akula posted the biggest victory of her career by stunning World No. 21 Chen Szu-Yu to enter the women singles pre-quarterfinals of the Asian Continental Stage of the 2023 WTTC Finals in Doha on Tuesday.
Ranked 72nd in the latest world rankings, Sreeja fought from being 1-3 down and staring at defeat in the close fifth set before pulling off a 11-2, 5-11, 2-11, 5-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-8 victory.
Manika Batra, ranked 35, expectedly defeated Hong Kong’s 93rd-ranked Zhu Chengzhu in straight sets.
Reeth Rishya lost to World No. 5 Hina Hayata (Japan), Swastika Ghosh ended her campaign after running into World No. 18 Jihee Jeon (Korea) and Diya Chitale took a set off World No. 20 Miu Hirano (Japan) before bowing out.
In the men’s singles, Sharath Kamal kept alive India’s challenge by advancing to the pre-quarterfinals. He defeated low-ranked Iranian Amin Ahmadian 4-1.
Earlier, Harmeet Desai lost to World No. 1 Fan Zhengdong (China) and Manush Shah surrendered to World No. 16 Lim Jonghoon (Korea).
THE RESULTS (SECOND ROUND, INVOLVING INDIANS)
Men singles: Sharath Kamal bt Amin Ahmadian (Iri) 13-11, 11-3, 10-12, 11-7, 11-6; Fan Zhendong (Chn) bt Harmeet Desai 11-6, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7; Lim Jonghoon (Kor) bt Manush Shah 11-4, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5.
Women singles: Sreeja Akula bt Chen Szu-Yu (Tpe) 11-2, 5-11, 2-11, 5-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-8; Manika Batra bt Zhu Chengzhu (Hkg) 13-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8; Hina Hayata (Jpn) bt Reeth Rishya 11-7, 11-5, 11-4, 11-3; Jihee Jeon (Kor) bt Swastika Ghosh 11-8, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5; Miu Hirano (Jpn) bt Diya Chitale 11-8, 11-4, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3.
