World Table Tennis Championships: Indian women fall 1-3 to Chinese Taipei, men’s team faces 0-3 defeat but Olympics spot not in danger

The Indian men's and women's teams fell short in the pre-quarterfinals of the World Table Tennis Championships in Busan on February 21. However, their performances are expected to secure their spots in the Paris Olympics.

Indian Men and Women's Teams Face Defeat in Pre-Quarterfinals 

The Manika Batra-led women's team suffered a 1-3 defeat to Chinese Taipei in the round of 16, while the men were defeated 0-3 by South Korea for the second time in the competition.

Although the event provided Olympic quotas to the quarterfinalists, India's men and women are likely to qualify based on their world rankings.

The final decision will be announced on March 5 after including the points earned from the World Championships.

Currently, the women's team is ranked 17th and the men's team 15th.

ALSO READ: Indian women shock Spain with 3-2 win, advance to Round of 32 in World Table Tennis Championships

 Indian Men and Women likely to qualify for Paris Olympics
 

"In all likelihood, the men and women have qualified for the Olympics but we will have to wait till March for official announcement," said a Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) official.

In the women's pre-quarterfinal, Manika put India ahead with a tense 11-8, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9 win over Taipei's Chen Szu-Yu.

 

Sreeja Akula suffered a defeat against world number 10 Cheng I-Ching, losing 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 in the second singles match. Following that, Ayhika Mukherjee couldn't match the strength of Li Yu-Jhun and was defeated 10-12, 13-15, 11-9, 2-11.

 

In her second singles match, Manika, ranked 36th, gave her best effort against Cheng, whom she had surprised last year. However, on this occasion, the world number 10 was well-prepared to face the Indian player, who uses long pimpled rubber on her backhand. Manika ultimately lost 10-12, 11-5, 9-11, 5-11.

 

The Indian men's team struggled against the formidable Korean opponents. Although Harmeet Desai and Sharath Kamal managed to win a game each against Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon, respectively, G Sathiyan faced a defeat against Lee Sang Su.

 

ALSO READ: Indian women blaze past Uzbekistan with 3-0 win, men’s team suffers another loss World Table Tennis Championships

 

Harmeet Desai leads Indian men to pre-quarterfinals 

 

Earlier on February 21, Desai clinched the deciding fifth rubber against Kazakhstan, propelling the Indian men's team into the pre-quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the women's team comfortably advanced to the last-16 stage with a 3-0 victory over Italy.

 

Desai faced a narrow defeat in the opening match against Kirill Gerassimenko, while Sharath, the experienced Commonwealth Games gold medallist, levelled the score with a come-from-behind win over Alan Kurmangaliyev.

 

The age-defying 41-year-old Sharath rallied from being two games down to secure a remarkable victory against his Kazakh adversary.

 

Sharath ultimately triumphed 6-11, 7-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-9.

 

Sathiyan's 3-1 victory for India

 

Following a brief lapse in concentration during the second game, Sathiyan regained his focus and comfortably secured a 3-1 victory for India.

 

The two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the team event, Sathiyan, initially won the opening game 11-6 but suffered a setback in the next game, losing 5-11. However, he bounced back strongly to claim the last two games 11-2, 11-7, leaving his opponent with no chance, as his powerful topspin shots earned him numerous points.

 

Sharath lost his second singles match to Gerassimenko (4-11, 9-11, 11-6, 7-11), resulting in Kazakhstan equalising the scores.

 

However, Harmeet remained composed in the deciding match and secured victory with scores of 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7.

 

In the women's category, Sreeja emerged victorious against Nikoleta Stefanova 12-10, 11-6, 11-8, while Manika dominated her match against Giorgia Piccolin 12-10, 11-6, 11-5.

 

Ayhika concluded the tie with a hard-fought win over Gaia Monfardini 15-13, 11-9, 13-15, 11-8.

 

(Powered by AI, Inputs by PTI)

 

MORE ON SPORTS TAK:

Rishabh Pant overcomes knee injury to dance down the track and hit massive six in practice match ahead of IPL return, video goes viral    

IND vs ENG: Back-in-form Shubman Gill reveals why he left the opening spot in Test cricket to bat at no.3

'Jos bhai is impact player now this year': Rajasthan Royals player says he will open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, team's score will be 120 in 6 overs