WTT Star Contender: Manav, Ayhika kickstart with wins; Sharath loses

Goa, Jan 23 : Indian paddlers Manav Thakkar and Ayhika Mukherjee began their campaign in the WTT Star Contender Goa 2024 with comfortable victories on Tuesday at the Peddem Indoor Stadium in Mapusa.

Manav overcame the challenge of Anshuman Agarwal 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-4) in straight games to move into Mens Singles - Qualifying Round 3 where he will face Senegals Ibrahima Diaw.

In the womens singles category, Ayhika Mukherjee defeated Sayali Wani by 3-0 (11-9, 11-2, 12-10) in Qualifying Round 2, while Poymantee Baisya beat Pritha Priya Vartikar 3-0 (12-10, 11-7, 11-7) in Qualifying Round 1.

Meanwhile, Achanta Sharath Kamal and Sanil Shetty faced defeats in the Mens Singles - Qualifying Round 2 to exit the tournament.Sharath Kamal went down 2-3 (11-6, 12-10, 4-11, 15-17, 3-11) against South Koreas Kang Dongsoo, whereas Algerias Mehdi Bouloussa beat Sanil Shetty 3-2 (14-12, 11-9, 11-13, 7-11, 11-6).

The tournament is co-hosted by Stupa Sports Analytics and Ultimate Table Tennis under the guidance of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).

In the mixed doubles category, Manush Shah and Diya Chitale defeated the Indonesian pair of Quek Izaac and Zhou Jingyi 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-6) in straight games, while Sreeja Akula and Snehit Suravajjula beat Pang Koen and Wong Ru of Indonesia 3-1 (11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 11-8) to reach the Qualifying Round 2.

hs/