New Delhi: Birthday Girl Sreeja Akula scripted history as she became the second Indian paddler after Manika Batra to qualify for the Round of 16 in an Olympics. The 16th-seeded Indian paddler won a hard-fought game against Singapore’s Zeng Jian.
Can birthday girl 🎂 Sreeja Akula take another step towards glory in #Paris2024 today? 🏓
Watch India's Table tennis sensation 🇮🇳 in action, LIVE NOW on #Sports18 & streaming FREE on #JioCinema👇https://t.co/nWPm29ezsW#Cheer4Bharat #OlympicsonJioCinema #OlympicsonSports18
— Sports18 (@Sports18) July 31, 2024
Trailing 1-0 after the first game, Sreeja came back into the game from behind to win the game 4-2. Jeng gave a tough fight to Sreeja as the Singaporean World No. 54 pushed the ball to the back-hand of Akula. Subsequently, Akula committed some unforced errors which definitely caused a mini heart attack to a lot of viewers back home.
However, the 26-year-old rode on her birthday luck to close the match 4-2 in favour of her. Akula will now face the Chinese World No.1, Sun Yingsha in the Round of 16. On the other hand, Manika Batra also awaits her opponent in the Round of 16.
Netizens react to Akula’s win
Social media was bustling with posts as the birthday girl, Sreeja Akula managed to win against Zeng Jian.
Opponent of Sreeja Akula looks like
Old Chinese Uncle playing for Singapore in Women’s division 😭 pic.twitter.com/cpdNUDEB5b— Mr.Ajmeri (@White_Billa) July 31, 2024
TABLE TENNIS WOMEN R32🏓
Sreeja Akula 🇮🇳 3-1 Jian Zeng 🇸🇬
Common Sreeja Focus!!!! 1 more Set#TableTennis #Paris2024 #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/UCfK2v8Gm2
— Deekshith Udupi (@Deekshi20605069) July 31, 2024
Sreeja akula reached the RO16! pic.twitter.com/xZ0fSs1vzT
— RVCJ Sports (@RVCJ_Sports) July 31, 2024
Indian Table Tennis Contingent for Paris Olympics 2024
India has sent a strong Table Tennis contingent comprising of experience as well as youth. The full contingent is as follows:
- Sharath Kamal (men’s singles and team)
- Harmeet Desai (men’s singles and team)
- Manav Thakkar (men’s team)
- Manika Batra (women’s singles and team)
- Sreeja Akula (women’s singles and team)
- Archana Kamath (women’s team)
Where to watch the Paris Olympics 2024?
Media outlet Viacom18 has acquired exclusive rights to stream the 2024 Paris Olympics. Naturally, the Paris Olympics 2024 will be telecasted live on the Sports18 networks. The various languages in which the viewers can avail the benefit of the telecast of the Olympics are as follows:
- Sports18 1- English, Tamil and Telegu
- Sports18 2- Hindi
Fans can also watch the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 for free on the OTT on Jio Cinema across multiple languages.
