Sharath, Manika Crash Out Of Mixed Doubles Table Tennis Event At Tokyo Olympics

Mumbai: The Indian pair of Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra crashed out of the Tokyo Olympics mixed doubles table tennis event after losing 8-11, 6-11, 5-11, 4-11 to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-ju and Cheng I-Ching in Round of 16.

Playing on Table 1 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, the Indian pair got off to a good start, with both Manika Batra and Sharath Kamal taking enough spin from the ball to upset Lin and Cheng to take a 5-1 lead.

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1 in the ITTF mixed doubles rankings, the Chinese Taipei team soon recovered to take control of the rallies and win the first game 11-8.

Despite taking their hold in the opening round of the second game, Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra struggled to make a comeback under pressure from the Chinese Taipei team and won the second game 11-6.

Lin and Cheng made sure they kept the rallies short and didn’t let the Indians settle into the match.

Manika Batra-Sharath Kamal found little joy in the third game as well, with Chinese Taipei players running in quick time to score 11-5.

Battling for survival in the fourth game, the Indians offered little resistance as Lin and Cheng outclassed them 11-4 to wrap up the match in straight games. The contest lasted 27 minutes.

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