New Delhi: Indian table tennis teams enjoyed yet another flawless day in their Asian Games 2023, campaign.
Both the teams were in action today in their preliminary round matches on Saturday.
Indian women’s team started the day’s action by defeating the Nepalese women’s team, with all the Indian women’s team members registering straight-set wins to give India, an easy 3-0 win.
Indian men’s team continued the action with their match against Tajikistan, and following their women’s squad’s footsteps, the men’s team also registered a win in straight sets, giving India a 3-0 walk over the Tajikistan side.
With this, both the men’s and women’s teams of India finished at the top of their respective groups and qualified for the round of 16 stages.
Earlier, in the women’s division, India’s Diya Chitale started the day by defeating Nepal’s Shrestha Sikka Suwal in straight sets by 11-1, 11-6 and 11-8, to give India a 1-0 lead in the first match.
India’s Ayhika Mukherjee then increased India’s lead to 2-0, after defeating Nabita Shestha of Nepal by 11-3, 11-7 and 11-2, again in straight sets.
Sutirtha Mukherjee, then put the final nail in the Nepalese team’s coffin by defeating Evana Thapa Magar, also in straight sets of 11-1, 11-5 and 11-2, giving India the tournament’s second straight win.
Start your day with this good news from Asian Games folks:
Women’s Table Tennis Team event: India finish on top of their Group as they beat Nepal 3-0 in 2nd & final encounter.
🏓 Ayhika, Sutirtha & Diya win their respective matches. #IndiaAtAsianGames | #AsianGames2023 pic.twitter.com/YPpGDgccuv
— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) September 23, 2023
Indian men’s team then took on the Tajikistan challenge and followed the women’s team’s footsteps to register their third straight win in the tournament.
India’s Manav Thakkar started the proceedings by defeating Tajikistan’s Afzalkhon Mahmudov by 11-8, 11-5 and 11-8, giving India a 1-0 lead in the match.
Manush Shah then added to India’s lead by defeating Ubaydullo Sultonov, in straight sets of 13-11, 11-7 and 11-5.
Harmeet Desai was India’s last table tennis star in action for the day as he defeated Ibrokhim Isomoilzada by 11-1, 11-3 and 11-5, taking the Indian men’s team to 3-0, in both the match and the tournament.
News Flash:
Asian Games: With 3 out of 3 wins, India finish on TOP of their Group in Men’s Table Tennis Team event
India beat Tajikistan in final Group stage clash
🏓 Manav, Manush & Harmeet win their respective matches 3-0 #IndiaAtAsianGames | #AsianGameswithIAS pic.twitter.com/FabfzUAFlZ
— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) September 23, 2023
Indian teams will now be in action in Round-of-16, on Sunday, September 24.
