New Delhi: The two Indian mixed doubles pairs—Manika Batra and G. Sathiyan and Sreeja Akula and Harmeet Desai—moved into the pre-quarterfinals of the table tennis events at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in the evening today.
Earlier, Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar made inroads as the duo entered Round 32 at the Games after somem struggle.
Manika and Sathiyan, one of the top pairs for the medal contest, defeated Suthasini Sawettabut and Napat Thanmathikom 10-12, 11-8, 11-3, 11-8. But the second Indian pair of Sreeja and Li Hui Seak and Cheng Chi Cheong beat 12-10, 11-7, 11-7 without breaking a sweat.
Manush and Manav, appearing in their first Games, put up solid resistance before beating another Thai pair of Napat Thanmathikom and Sitisak Nuchchart 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 12-10.
–TTFI
