It is the first time India bagged a medal in the Women’s doubles competition at the Asian TT Championships. (Image: X)
The Indian women’s pair managed to beat their South Korean opponents 3-1.
Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee assure India of their first-ever women’s doubles medal at the Asian TT Championships by entering the semifinals.
The women’s team has been producing consistent performances in premier events and has reached the quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics. Ayhika was not part of the team in Paris but back following the unexpected retirement of Archana Kamath, she made all the difference against South Korea.
Ayhika has built a reputation of being a giant killer having beaten world number one 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 Shin Yuben.
World number 29 Manika then made it 2-0 for India with a 12-14, 13-11, 11-5, 5-11, 12-10 win over 16th-ranked Jeon Jihee.
India’s highest-ranked player at 26, Sreeja Akula, allowed the Koreans to get back in the match after losing to Lee Eunhye in straight games — 6-11, 10-12, 8-11.
Yubin then levelled the tie with a scrappy 13-11, 11-4, 6-11, 7-11, 12-10 win over Manika.
(more to follow, with PTI Inputs)
