Manika, Sreeja, Sharath reach pre-quarters of Asian WTTC Continental Stage

Ranked 72nd in the latest world rankings, Sreeja Akula 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.

FILE PHOTO: Manika Batra progressed with a 4-0 sweep of Hong Kong’s Zhu Chengzhu. | Photo Credit: THE HINDU

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.