World Table Tennis Star Contender: Archana becomes the lone Indian to progress to quarters

Sreeja Akula's run, however, came to an end as she lost to Bruna Takahashi of Brazil 7-11, 4-11, 10-12 in the pre-quarterfinals.

Archana Kamath became the lone Indian to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Table Tennis Star Contender here on Thursday, after she came from a 0-2 game deficit to beat Miyu Nagasaki of Japan 11-13, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-8.

However, Sreeja Akula's run came to an end as she lost to Bruna Takahashi of Brazil 7-11, 4-11, 10-12 in the pre-quarterfinals.

Earlier, Sreeja Akula and Archana Kamath had created ripples in the women's singles second round of the World Table Tennis Star Contender in Doha on Thursday, with upset wins over much higher-ranked opponents.

While Sreeja, ranked 143rd in the world beat 11-5, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7 win over Suh Hyowon of Korea, ranked 21, Archana, ranked 132, had outclassed Mo Zhang of Canada, ranked 39 at 11-8, 15-13, 11-7.

G. Sathiyan had gone down to Andrej Gacina of Croatia 6-11, 6-11, 7-11 in the men’s second round.

RESULTS Men’s singles (round of 32): Andrej Gacina (Croatia) beat G. Sathiyan 11-6, 11-6, 11-7. Women’s (round of 32): Sreeja Akula beat Suh Hyowon (South Korea) 11-5, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7; Archana Kamath beat Mo Zhang (Canada) 11-8, 15-13, 11-7.