Sreeja Akula becomes first Indian to win WTT Contender singles title

Along with the singles title, Sreeja also clinched the doubles crown with Archana Kamath. Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar bagged the men’s doubles title.

Indian paddler Sreeja Akula in action. | Photo Credit: PTI

Sreeja Akula became the first Indian paddler to win a WTT Contender singles title as she beat World No. 504 Ding Yijie of China 4-1 (10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6) in the final in Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday.

The India No 2 paddler, along with Archana Kamath, defeated compatriots Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade 3-0 (11-9. 11-6, 12-10) to clinch the women’s doubles crown as well.

READ | Paris 2024: Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra to spearhead India in Olympic team debut

Sreeja and Archana had won 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 12-10) against Asian Games bronze medallists Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee in the semifinals. On the other hand, Diya and Yashaswini had claimed a 3-1 (14-12, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7) win over China’s Sun Sinan and Ding in their final-four clash.

Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar became the first Indian male duo to triumph at this level as they defeated local favourites Azeez Solanke and Olajide Omotayo 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-8) in the men’s doubles final.

Sreeja, Archana, Harmeet and Manav are part of the Indian table tennis squad for Paris Olympics, which will be led by Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra.