Others

India concluded their campaign at the Asian Table Tennis Championships with a historic haul of three medals, including a bronze in the women's doubles. The bronze medalists, Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee, had previously stunned the reigning world champions from China at the Asian Games last year. However, in the semifinals, they faced a tough challenge from Japan's Miwa Harimoto and Miyuu Kihara, losing 4-11, 9-11, 8-11.Prior to their semifinal loss, the Indian duo had defeated South Korea's Kim Nayeong and Lee Eunhye in the quarterfinals, securing India's first-ever women's doubles medal at the Asian meet.The Indian women's team had earlier made history by winning a bronze medal in the team event. The trio of Manika Batra, Ayhika Mukherjee, and Sutirtha Mukherjee secured the country's first-ever medal in the women's team category since the competition began in 1972. However, they eventually lost 1-3 to Japan in the semifinals.In the men's category, India secured another bronze, their third straight in the tournament, after the team of Achanta Sharath Kamal, Manav Thakkar, and Harmeet Desai fell 0-3 to Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.In men's singles, Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah bowed out in the pre-quarterfinals. World No. 60 Thakkar, who had earlier shocked world No. 14 Jang Woojin of South Korea, was defeated by Hong Kong's Baldwin Chan, 4-11 4-11 8-11. Meanwhile, Manush put up a tough fight against Lin Yun-Ju of Chinese Taipei and took two games before narrowly losing 8-11 5-11 11-7 11-6 12-14.

Indian Table Tennis Squad Announced for Asian ChampionshipsVeteran Sharath Kamal and star player Manika Batra will lead the Indian contingent at the upcoming 27th Asian Table Tennis Championships, scheduled to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan from October 7 to 13.The Indian Table Tennis Federation (TTFI) has named a strong squad for the tournament, which will serve as a crucial qualification event for the World Table Tennis Championships and the Asian Games.The men's team, captained by Sharath Kamal, includes Manav Thakkar, Harmeet Desai, G. Sathiyan, and Manush Shah. The women's team, led by Manika Batra, comprises Sreeja Akula, Ayhika Mukherjee, Diya Chital, and Sutirtha Mukherjee.The selection process was based on world ranking, international experience, and performance at the national level. The Indian team has been training under the guidance of foreign expert Massimo Constantini, who has been working to enhance their skills and strategies."I am hopeful they will put their best foot forward in the Astana championships," said Constantini.The Indian team had a successful outing at the Paris Olympics, with the women's team reaching the quarterfinals and the men's team losing to China in the round of 16. It was the first time that India qualified for team events at the Olympics.The Asian Championships hold significant importance for the Indian team as it provides an opportunity to qualify for major international tournaments. The team will be aiming to perform well and secure a berth in the World Table Tennis Championships and the Asian Games.

In a thrilling UTT 2024 encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, rising star Diya Chitale stunned World No. 26 Manika Batra, leading Dabang Delhi TTC to a remarkable 8-7 victory over table toppers PBG Bengaluru Smashers.Despite trailing 7-1, Dabang Delhi TTC staged a stunning comeback, winning seven consecutive games. Chitale's 3-0 (11-6, 11-10, 11-8) triumph over Batra proved pivotal.Earlier, PBG Bengaluru Smashers had dominated, with Alvaro Robles and Lily Zhang securing victories in the first men's and women's singles, respectively. However, Orawan Paranang and G Sathiyan sparked the Delhi-based franchise's resurgence with a 2-1 (11-8, 8-11, 11-8) mixed doubles win over Manika and Robles.Sathiyan then blanked Jeet Chandra 3-0 (11-10, 11-6, 11-5), setting the stage for Chitale's heroics. The youngster's impressive performance against Batra showcased her immense potential.In another exciting clash, Puneri Paltan Table Tennis defeated debutants Jaipur Patriots 9-6. Ankur Bhattacharjee, Suthasini Sawettabut, Natalia Bajor, Anirban Ghosh, Joao Monteiro, and Bajor contributed to the victory.PBG Bengaluru Smashers remain atop the standings with 48 points, while Dabang Delhi TTC sits second with 41 points. Puneri Paltan Table Tennis is fourth with 28 points, and Jaipur Patriots is fifth with 25 points.

PBG Bengaluru Smashers, riding high on two consecutive victories, aim to extend their unbeaten streak and inch closer to the playoffs when they face Jaipur Patriots, the debutants of Ultimate Table Tennis 2024, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on Thursday.Bengaluru Smashers, led by captain Alvaro Robles, have emerged as a formidable force in UTT 2024, winning both their ties and securing eight out of ten matches played. Their impressive performance has propelled them to second place in the standings, trailing only Ahmedabad SG Pipers.The Smashers boast a star-studded lineup, including Manika Batra, who recently showcased her prowess with a dominant win over Ayhika Mukherjee. American ace Lily Zhang and the assertive Jeet Chandra add further depth to the team.On the other hand, Jaipur Patriots, despite being newcomers to the league, have demonstrated their potential with a balanced record. They have won one tie out of two, claiming five matches out of ten and 15 games out of 30.The Patriots' clash with Bengaluru Smashers is expected to feature a captivating matchup between Robles and South Korean paddler Cho Seung-min. Suthasini Sawettabut, Snehit SFR, and Nithyashree Mani have also made significant contributions to the Patriots' success and will be eager to continue their strong performances.The franchise-based league, promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the auspices of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), has captivated audiences with its thrilling matches. All ties are being broadcast on Sports18 Khel on TV and streamed live on JioCinema in India and Facebook Live outside India. Tickets are available online through BookMyShow and offline at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium box office.

Ultimate Table Tennis 2024 (UTT 2024) witnessed an exciting clash between U Mumba TT and Ahmedabad SG Pipers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. Despite Manav Thakkar's victory over his doubles partner Manush Shah in the opening men's singles match, Ahmedabad SG Pipers emerged victorious, registering their second consecutive win.Manav dominated the first two games, winning 11-2 and 11-9. However, Manush fought back to claim the third game, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter. Reeth Rishya leveled the tie for Ahmedabad SG Pipers with a 2-1 win over Sutirtha Mukherjee.The mixed doubles match saw Manush and Bernadette Szocs outclass Manav and Maria Xiao 3-0. Quadri Aruna gave U Mumba TT a glimmer of hope with a 2-1 win over Lilian Bardet. But Szocs proved too strong for Xiao in the women's singles, securing the victory for Ahmedabad SG Pipers.Reeth Rishya was awarded the Indian Player of the Tie and DafaNews Shot of the Tie honors for her performance. Szocs claimed the Foreign Player of the Tie and ACT Tally of the Tie awards for her contributions in both singles and doubles.

Tokyo Paralympics silver medalist Bhavina Patel is determined to upgrade her medal to gold at the upcoming Paris Paralympics, which commence on August 28. Patel, who became the first Indian paddler to win a medal in the Class 4 event at Tokyo, expressed her confidence in challenging the dominance of Chinese opponents."Chinese players are humans, and so are we," Patel asserted. "China does not matter to me. I have beaten a Chinese player before, so there's no pressure on me to face them. I have changed my tactics accordingly and will deploy my best plans against them."Patel, a Commonwealth Games champion and Asian Games medalist, emphasized her focus on giving her best. "There is no nervousness. I just have to give my best. When we think about giving our best, nothing else comes to mind," she said.Her doubles partner, Sonalben Patel, echoed her sentiments, stating, "Bhavina and I have put in a double amount of effort in our training as partners. We will try our utmost to return home with a medal."Tokyo Paralympics gold medalist in men's singles badminton SH6 event, Krishna Nagar, expressed his aim to replicate his performance. "I hope everything will be fine in Paris, and I will try to win gold for India again. I will give it my all to defend my gold from Tokyo. Preparations went well, I feel positive, and will look to play safe," he said.Debutant shot putter Sachin Khilari set high expectations for himself. "There is a lot of excitement in me. I have been preparing for the Paralympics for 1.5 years. I performed well at the World Championship, and I expect a gold medal out of myself because I have worked hard to earn it," he said.Discus throw athlete Sakshi Kasana, also making her debut, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity. "I have worked tirelessly hard for this moment to come true. Representing your nation at the Paralympics is the biggest thing for any athlete, so I hope my four years of hard work pays off."PCI President and legendary para javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia predicted a strong performance from India. "I have 20 years of experience in para sports. I have taken 3 medals. I know each player and their performances individually. We have received support from PM Modi, and 50 players from the TOPS scheme are going," he said."Many players got help under CSR activity. We will be winning more than 25 medals. India will be in the top 20 in the medal tally." Jhajharia also expressed confidence in Sumit Antil defending his gold medal. "Sumit will definitely defend his gold medal. He is fit, not under any kind of injury, and has a high level of confidence in himself. The national anthem will definitely be played, and Sumit will win gold," Jhajharia said.India has sent an 84-member team, the largest ever for Paralympics, to Paris, where the Games will be held from August 28 to September 8.

India's women's table tennis team made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time ever. However, their journey ended with a 1-3 loss to Germany, with Archana Kamath being the only Indian paddler to win a game.Despite the historic achievement, Kamath has decided to retire from professional table tennis to pursue her studies abroad. The decision came after a candid conversation with her coach, Anshul Garg, who acknowledged the challenges of winning an Olympic medal in the future.Kamath's selection for the Paris Olympics had sparked controversy, but she proved her worth by helping India secure their only victory against Germany. However, the lack of financial sustainability in table tennis, coupled with her desire for academic excellence, led her to make the difficult decision to retire.Kamath's father, Girish, expressed his support for his daughter's choice, emphasizing her academic achievements and her dedication to table tennis. He stated that she had no regrets about her decision.Kamlesh Mehta, secretary of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), acknowledged the growing corporate support for table tennis but admitted that the sport still faces challenges in providing a sustainable livelihood for players.Garg echoed Mehta's sentiments, highlighting the need for a system that supports upcoming players financially. He believes that Kamath's decision is understandable given the current state of the sport.

India's Olympic hopes in men's table tennis were dashed on Tuesday as they succumbed to a 0-3 defeat against table tennis powerhouse China in the pre-quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics.The Indian duo of Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar faced an uphill battle in the opening doubles match, losing 2-11 3-11 7-11 to the formidable Chinese pair of Ma Long and Chuqin Wang.Veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal, India's lone medal hope, displayed resilience in the first singles against Olympic champion Fan Zhendong. Sharath stunned the Chinese star by winning the first game 11-9. However, Zhendong regrouped and showcased his class, outplaying Sharath 11-7 11-7 11-5 in the subsequent three games.With India trailing 0-2, the onus fell on 24-year-old Manav Thakkar to salvage the tie. However, Thakkar struggled against Chuqin, losing 9-11 6-11 9-11.The Indian women's team had earlier made history by defeating higher-ranked Romania 3-2 in a thrilling quarterfinal encounter. Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, and Archana Kamat displayed exceptional skill and determination to secure India's place in the quarterfinals.Despite the disappointing result, the Indian men's team can take solace in their spirited performance against one of the world's strongest table tennis nations. Sharath Kamal's resilience and the young players' determination bode well for the future of Indian table tennis.

India's Paris Olympics 2024 Schedule: Day 6 Brings Hope and AnticipationDay 6 of the Paris Olympics 2024 holds immense promise for India, offering a chance to redeem the disappointment of previous days. The Indian men's hockey team faces Germany in a crucial semi-final match, while celebrated wrestler Vinesh Phogat takes to the mat. The spotlight, however, will be on Neeraj Chopra, India's golden boy in javelin throw.Chopra, who made history as India's first Olympic gold medalist in athletics, has continued his dominance since his Tokyo triumph. He has emerged victorious in the World Championship, Asian Games, and Diamond League finals. On Tuesday, he will begin his Olympic campaign in Qualification Group B at 15:20 IST.An hour earlier, Asian Games silver medalist Kishore Kumar Jena will aim to qualify for the final in Men's Javelin Throw Qualification Group A at 13:50 IST. The day will commence with the men's table tennis team of Harmeet Desai, Manav Thakkar, and Achanta Sharath Kamal launching their campaign in the Quarterfinals of the Men's Team Competition.In athletics, Kiran Pahal will compete in the Women's 400m Repechage at 2.50 pm IST. Vinesh Phogat, India's wrestling star, will face Japan's Yui Susaki in the Women's 50kg Round of 16 at 2.30 pm IST.