Sreeja Akula emerged as a star in the WTT Contender in Lagos. Not only did she won the first singles championship of WTT Contender for India but also clinched the women’s doubles crown twith Archana Kamath to provide a double celebration for the nation.
Sreeja Akula top fo the podium finish started with women’s double victory. She scored a decisive win and defeated their fellow Indian teammates Diya Chitale and Yasaswini Ghorpade. The score sheet of 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 12-10) shows that Sreeja wanted to finish the match in hurry and prepare for the singles final.
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China’s Ding Yijie was Akula’s opponent in singles final and in this match Akula did not seem to be scared at all. Her efforts were rewarded and went home a winner after a fierce and exhilarating battle that ended 4-1 (10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6). This win is a major advancement in Sreeja Akula’s career, given her triumph with the gold medal at the Bundanon, 2022 Commonwealth games and her first ever WTT Feeder in Derna January this year.
Sreeja Akula picks up her first #WTTContender singles title at #WTTLagos 👏 pic.twitter.com/5YLKLOcwrV
— World Table Tennis (@WTTGlobal) June 23, 2024
Manav Thakkar partnered by Harmeet Desai won the men’s doubles event and thus clinched glory for the nation. They defeated pro-Nigerian players Azeez Solanke and Olajide Omotayo in the final of men’s double category. The score sheet read 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-8) and so yet another deserved title for India.
The high voltage exciting display of talent and skills exhibited in this WTT Contender Night has set a new benchmark for Indian Table Tennis. Sreeja Akula, broke barriers in the all-singles domination category through hard work and ambition. Her achievement Is an inspiration to all the young talent in India and also of the table tennis players by showing that nothing comes easy but with focus and hardwork one can achieve anything.
In addition, triumphs in the men’s and the women’s doubles illustrate that Indian table tennis has begun to expand its pool of gifted players. The coordination shown by both teams in terms of synergy shows a way forward in how best teams should partner in this fast-paced game.
It is a landmark event in Indian table tennis and somewhere there lies a very bright future for the game. There, they have players such as Sreeja Akula who can give the formidable team of powerhouses sleepless nights once the Indian team starts making its ascensions in the world championships.
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