Ayhika Mukherjee played a crucial role in India's victory over South Korea in the quarterfinals of the Asian Table Tennis Championships 2024.
Ayhika Mukherjee ensures India women's TT team 1st ever Asian Table Tennis Championship medal
Coming from behind, Mukherjee helped the Indian women's team secure a 3-2 win, ensuring their first-ever medal at the Asian championships hosted by the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU).
Previously, the Indian women's team had won bronze in the 1960 edition of the championships, which were hosted by the now-defunct Table Tennis Federation of Asia. The Indian team will now face Japan in the semifinals, scheduled for Wednesday, October 8. Japan advanced to the semifinals after defeating Singapore 3-0 in their quarterfinal match.
India takes early lead in Asian Table Tennis Championship
India took a commanding 2-0 lead in the tie against South Korea thanks to victories by Ayhika Mukherjee and Manika Batra in their respective matches. Mukherjee defeated Shin Yu Bin in a closely contested match, while Batra overcame Jeon Jihee in a thrilling encounter. However, South Korea fought back with a win by Lee Eunhye over Sreeja Akula, who was playing in only her second competitive tournament after recovering from an injury. This victory leveled the score at 2-2.
Ayhika Mukherjee rescues India
Yu Bin defeated Manika Batra in a closely contested match, overcoming a two-game deficit. However, Manika fought back valiantly but ultimately fell short. It was Ayhika Mukherjee who rescued India in this tie. She won three consecutive games against Jihee in the final match, securing the victory for the Indian team.
Notably, the three members of the second-seeded Korean team, Shin Yu-bin, Jeon Ji-hee, and Lee Eun-Hye, had previously led South Korea to a bronze medal in the women's team table tennis event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Also, Yu-bin was part of the mixed doubles bronze medal-winning pair at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
India's Men's Team to Compete in Quarterfinals
The Indian men's table tennis team will also be participating in the quarterfinals of the Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana.
