Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra seal Tokyo Olympics qualification in mixed doubles

Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra seal Tokyo Olympics qualification in mixed doubles

Manika Batra and Sharath Kamal

Indian star paddlers Achanta Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra sealed qualification to the Tokyo Olympic Games by defeating Korea’s Lee Sangsu and Jeon Jihee 4-2 in a thrilling final at the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament. Earlier, the duo had faced stiff challenge in the semi-final as well, as they had to outlast a difficult challenge in the initial stages from their Singaporean opponents Koen Pang Yew En and Lin Ye to get through to the summit clash.

Further, both Sharath and Manika had sealed singles spots at the Tokyo Olympic Games by virtue of being the highest in rankings among second-placed players in the tournament. On the other hand, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Sutirtha Mukherjee had clinched their berths at the Games by winning their respective categories leading to a potentially sizable Indian table tennis contingent at the Olympics.

Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra fashion comeback win in final

Sharath Kamal and Manika
Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra

Much like their semi-final clash, the finals also was no cakewalk for Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra. The first two sets ended in a jiffy and it was the Koreans who took them both. However, the determined Indians produced a scintillating comeback to take the next two sets and level things. The fifth set proved to be the most thrilling as it got to a 11-11 tie before the Indian duo took the next two points to win the set.

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The sixth set was also closely contested but Sharath and Manika showed their class to get past their opponents. The final score read 8-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 13-11, 11-8.

The Tokyo Olympic Games will begin on July 23 and go on till August 8.

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