For a continent that is brilliant in Table Tennis and for a country that largely uses it as a means for recreation in corporate offices, what Manika Batra and Sharath Kamal have done at the Asian Games today has to be a massive, massive step for Indian Table Tennis.
Never had India won a medal in Table Tennis at the Asian Games, however, it was a dream that was being nurtured in the Indian Table tennis circuit for long, a dream that was being taken care of by Massimo Constantini(India’s national TT coach).
Multiple medals in the Commonwealth games and India’s highest finish in the World Championships meant that India came into the Asian Games on the back of some brilliant performances.
A bronze medal in the men’s team event had provided India with the belief of scripting greater things in Jakarta, and the Manika-Sharath pair did just that today, securing India’s first ever medal in the doubles category at the Asian Games.
Playing against the North Korean pair of An Ji Som and Cha Hyo Sim, Manika and Sharath put forth an exhibition of grit, skill and raw determination.
Traling 2-1, Manika used her long pimple to brilliant effect, with Sharath Kamal coming up with some trademark backhand top spin winners.
The match was largely won because of the North Korean pair not able to decipher a way to counter Mainka’s long pimple play.
The duo will now be in action during the semi final at 16:30 IST.
This is how Twitter reacted to this magnificent feat:
