Mumbai, March 15, 2021: Manika Batra’s run at the World Singles Qualification Tournament came to an end after she lost 1-4 to Monaco’s Xiaoxin Yang in the women’s singles knockout stage-I semi-final match in Doha on Monday.
Despite losing the first two games, World No. 63 Manica held her nerve and attempted a comeback by winning the third game. However, World No. 44 Yang didn’t let momentum slip and wrapped up the tie 11-9, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9, states a Press release.
Earlier in the quarter-finals on Sunday, Manica thrashed Uzbekistan’s Rimma Gufranova 12-10, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 while Sutirtha Mukherjee lost against Russian Polina Mikhailova 12-10, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 10-12, 5-11 in a thrilling match.
Achanta Sharath Kamal and Gnanasekaran Sathiyan also made exits after suffering losses in their respective men’s singles second round matches on Sunday.
The Indian paddlers will now shift their focus to Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament, which is scheduled from March 18 to 20 in Doha.
Sharath and Sathiyan will be in action in the men’s singles while Manica and Sutirtha will play in the women’s singles. In the mixed doubles category Sharath and Manica will look to seal Olympics berth.
