City
Epaper

TT: Batra suffers twin blows; RP-SG Mavericks have tough day

By IANS | Updated: July 27, 2019 22:20 IST

India's star player Manika Batra suffered a twin blow on Day 3 of Ultimate Table Tennis, featuring in two crushing defeats and handing Goa Challengers a massive 11-4 victory over RP-SG Mavericks Kolkata here on Saturday.

Open in App

Manika first capitulated 0-3 in the opening Women's Singles encounter to compatriot Archana Kamath, giving the 19-year-old her biggest victory in her blossoming career.

Manika then lost 1-2 in the mixed doubles too, pairing up with World No. 55 Benedikt Duda, to see her team RP-SG Mavericks Kolkata slide to a huge loss.

The rechristened Goan team rode on Archana's early coup to demolish a seemingly strong RP-SG in each of the first four clashes, with Spain's Alvaro Robles and Amalraj Anthony/Cheng I-Ching scoring 2-1 wins in the Men's singles and mixed doubles.

India's Amalraj followed up his good show with another upset, beating Germany's Benedikt in the second men's singles.

Earlier, Archana started the victory march for the Challengers as she picked up a stunning victory over Indian TT's golden girl Manika in the opening women's singles match of the tie.

Archana, India's only women paddler to have qualified for the semifinals of the Youth Olympics, got off to a fiery start racing to a 5-2 lead. Manika launched a strong comeback and leveled the score 7-7 with an exotic forehand smash. But Archana was in no mood to squander her chance and she raced to the game point with a powerful forehand return. Manika managed to save one game point but Archana eventually won the game 11-9.

The Challengers' player was on a roll in the second game, cruising to a 7-4 lead.A

Manika did try to cut down the lead but Archana was all over her and pocketed the game 11-7 in a rather easy manner. Having already lost the match, RP-SG would have wanted their star player to salvage at least a point but Archana looked like a player possessed and sealed the game 11-3 to clinch all three points on offer.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: ManikaindiaAlvaro Robles
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalIranian President Calls for Constructive Role of Brics to Halt West Asia Conflict During Talks With PM Modi

LifestyleEid 2026 Date: When Will Saudi Arabia, UAE and India Celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr?

MaharashtraMaharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Unfurls 200-Foot National Flag at Nagpur’s Kasturchand Park

NationalAhmedabad Traffic Update for India vs New Zealand T20 World Cup Final: Check Road Closures and Alternate Routes Near Narendra Modi Stadium

AurangabadLocal industries feel heat of Global conflict

Other Sports Realted Stories

Other SportsBWF approves use of synthetic shuttlecocks at select events

Other SportsGaganjeet Bhullar set for IGPL Invitational in Mauritius hosted by Leander Paes

Other SportsIPL 2026: Cameron Green likely to bowl in KKR's next match against LSG: Report

Other SportsBhullar chases back-to-back glory as IGPL Tour hits Mauritius

Other SportsLegal team ready to advise against potential pitfalls: AFI on 'Mandatory Approval' rule for athlete sponsorship