The Indian women’s table tennis team has made history by securing their first-ever medal at the Asian Championships. Their remarkable victory came after a thrilling quarterfinal match against Paris Olympics bronze medallists South Korea.
Ayhika Mukherjee emerged as the star of the show, defying her underdog status to defeat world-class opponents. Ranked 92nd in the world, she stunned World No. 8 Shin Yubin and World No. 16 Jeon Jihee. Her exceptional performance gave India an unexpected 2-0 lead in the tie.
However, South Korea fought back to level the score at 2-2. Ayhika and Manika Batra, India’s highest-ranked player at 26, remained composed under pressure. Ayhika held her nerve against Jihee in the deciding contest, sealing the win for India.
Ayhika’s triumph is a testament to her determination and skill. Earlier this year, she defeated world number one Sun Yinghsa from China at the World Team Championships. Her inclusion in the team after Archana Kamath’s retirement proved to be a masterstroke.
Manika Batra also played a crucial role, contributing a vital win over Jeon Jihee. Sreeja Akula, despite losing her match, played a part in India’s success by keeping the Koreans at bay in the early stages.
The Indian men’s team will now face their quarterfinal challenge on Wednesday. The women’s team’s historic achievement has set a new benchmark for Indian table tennis and will undoubtedly inspire future generations of players.
