New Delhi: Manika Batra made history in the ongoing ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup Tournament, toppling World No. 23 and Chen Szu-Yu 4-3 at the Hua Mak Indoor Stadium in Bangkok to enter the semifinals of the $200,000 event today.
Manika has already ensured the best finish by an Indian in the 39-year-old history of the Asian Cup, after A. Sharath Kamal and G. Sathiyan had reached the sixth positions in 2015 and 2019, respectively. The event features the top 16 players in the men’s and women’s singles from the continent based on world rankings and qualifications.
World No. 44 Indian had the right measure of her Chinese Taipei opponent, despite losing the first game, to register her second win in the tournament with a 6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9 verdict. With today’s win, the unseeded Manika improved her win-loss record to 2:4 against the Taipei paddler.
“She (Szu-Yu ) is a great player. I lost to her in the World Championships (Team) recently. But this time, I changed my strategies, and they paid off. Today’s win has given me confidence and I will play with all focus back tomorrow,” said Manika.
After the scratchy first game, the Indian took control of the match and dictated terms with the higher-ranked player. Manika got everything going for her–the blocks, the placements, the backhand and forehand scorchers and the cross-court shots. With run-away hits in the second, third and fourth games, Manika surged into a 3-1 lead.
But a time-out in the fifth at 7-7 brought the Taipei woman back in the game, and she went on to win it 11-8. Manikas should have sewn it up in the next when she led 8-5. But Szu-Yu closed the gap to be a point behind, forcing Manika to take the time-out. On her return to the table, she managed to go ahead 9-7, but on her serve, the Taipei players levelled 9-9 and finished the game off in style to level 3-3.
In the decider, Szu-Yu took four points on the trot from 2-2 to go up 6-4, a two-point lead and a distinct advantage. Manika fought back after the side-change to make it 7-7 and held two match points at 10-8. But the sixth-seed managed one more point before Manika shut her out, claiming the last point.
In the semifinals tomorrow, she will take on World No. 5 Japanese Mima Ito, who is seeded No. 2.
In the last first-round match yesterday, Sharath Kamal failed to overcome Chuang Chih-Yuan, his higher-ranked Taipei opponent and ranked No. 16, and went down 1-4 (11-7, 4-11, 7-11, 4-11, 6-11).
First-round losers Sathiyan and Sharath, who finished in the 9-16 position brackets, will receive $2,250 each.
TTFI press release
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