Women’s table tennis team secures first medal at Asian Championships

The Indian women’s table tennis team assured itself of a first ever medal at the Asian Championships with a stunning 3-2 win over Paris Olympics bronze medallists South Korea in the quarterfinals.

World No. 92 Ayhika Mukherjee was the architect of the famous victory as she beat world No. 8 Shin Yubin and world No. 16 Jeon Jihee.

Ayhika and Manika Batra had given India an unexpected 2-0 lead before the South Koreans made it 2-2. Ayhika held her nerve against Jihee to seal the win in the deciding contest.

The women’s team had reached the quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics. Ayhika was not part of the team in Paris but following the unexpected retirement of Archana Kamath she returned to the team and made all the difference against South Korea.

Ayhika has built a reputation of being a giant killer having beaten word No. 1 Sun Yinghsa from China at the World Team Championships earlier this year.

On Tuesday, she put India ahead with an 11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7 win over eighth ranked Yuben.

World No. 29 Manika then made it 2-0 with a 12-14, 13-11, 11-5, 5-11, 12-10 win over 16th ranked Jihee.

Sreeja Akula, India’s highest ranked player at 26, lost 6-11, 10-12, 8-11 to Lee Eunhye. Yubin then levelled the tie with a scrappy 13-11, 11-4, 6-11, 7-11, 12-10 win over Manika. In the all-important decider, Ayhika downed Jihee 7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 12-10 to get the job done.

The Indian men’s team will play its quarterfinal on Wednesday.