September 30, Saturday, proved to be a challenging day for India in the table tennis arena of the Asian Games, as top-seed Manika Batra and the formidable doubles pair, Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah, bowed out in the quarterfinals.
Manika Batra, who had etched her name in the annals of history by being the first Indian to reach the individual event quarterfinals at the Asian Games, faced off against China's Yidi Wang with hopes of securing a medal. It was a match that witnessed Batra's indomitable spirit as she pushed Wang to the limit, offering spectators a riveting six-set game. Batra clinched two sets, with Wang taking the remaining four.
The opening set saw Batra in formidable form, challenging Wang every step of the way. Although Wang took the first game, Batra made a swift comeback in the second set. However, Wang's resilience saw her seizing the next two games. Not one to back down, Batra rekindled hopes with a win in the fifth set. But the day belonged to Wang, who cemented her victory with a final score of 8-11, 12-10, 6-11, 4-11, 14-12, and 5-11.
Switching the spotlight to the Men's Doubles Quarterfinals, India's dynamic duo, Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah, squared off against South Korea's Woojin Jang and Jonghoon Lim. It was a battle of skill, strategy, and nerves, as both teams vied for a spot in the semifinals.
Kicking off the match on a positive note, the Indian pair claimed the first game 11-8. However, the South Koreans retaliated swiftly in the subsequent set. The third game witnessed a recharged Thakkar and Shah clinching a win, only for Jang and Lim to balance the scoreboard with a victory in the fourth. As the pressure mounted, both teams fought tooth and nail in the decider. Despite the Indian pair leading 7-1 initially, the South Koreans made a dramatic turnaround, eventually winning the match. The nail-biting end saw a score of 8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6, and 9-11 in favor of Jang and Lim.
This turn of events in the quarterfinals has certainly been a setback for India's medal aspirations, but the performances of the athletes reflect their tenacity and potential, promising brighter prospects in future events.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK
Asian Games 2023: Jyothi Yarraji, Nithya Ramraj shine in Women's 100m Hurdles, qualify for final
