Ace Indian paddler Manika Batra shocked World No. 7 Chen Xingtong in a spherical of 16 cliffhanger however compatriot G Sathiyan misplaced his males’s single pre-quarterfinals on the ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup in Bangkok on Thursday. In the spherical of 16 match-ups on the opening day, World No.44 Manika, who’s unseeded within the occasion, got here up with a improbable displaying to beat the third seeded Chinese 4-3. The closing scoreline within the edge-of-the-seat thriller was 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6, 9/11, 8-11, 11-9 within the Indian’s favour with the Thai crowd extending its full-throated assist.

She thanked the spectators for supporting her.

“The win gave me immense happiness when I beat the World No. 7. I will continue playing my best as I have tried all the time, and will keep the same intensity and focus for the next rounds,” mentioned Manika.

The match went all the way down to the wire due to the exemplary braveness that Manika displayed when the Chinese paddler gained the higher hand after levelling the rating at 3-3.

Shedding her cautious method, Manika went for the kill within the decider and led 5-2, 8-3, 8-7 and 9-7 earlier than the third seed managed to carry her serve to degree 9-9. Nevertheless, Manika seized the second to serve out her opponent, taking the final two essential factors to beat the third Chinese in her profession.

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Manika led the primary recreation 7-4 earlier than letting the Chinese claw her manner again to take it. But she picked up momentum, mixing the up-and-down tempo cleverly to confuse her opponent. It paid off as she led 3-1.

But the Chinese closed in on, taking the subsequent two video games when Manika attacked. But all the pieces modified within the final recreation when the Indian obtained her rhythm again to nail it.

Manika will conflict with world No. 23 Chen Szu Yu from Taipei within the quarterfinals on Friday.

Earlier, G. Sathiyan, the top-ranked Indian on this planet at No. 39, did all the pieces proper earlier than taking place 3-4 to the fifth-seed Japanese Yukiya Uda within the pre-quarterfinals.

Although the Japanese gained 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 9/11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6, Sathiyan confirmed nice character when down 0-2 to strike again in opposition to world No. 26 and degree the rating at 2-2.

But the Japanese left-hander, taking part in properly away from the desk and exploiting the angles, led 3-2. In the fifth recreation, Uda ought to have sealed the match in his favour, however Sathiyan fought again properly to cut back the margin.

He narrowed the two-point hole to revive parity at 9-9, and at deuce, the Japanese squandered the benefit when his service took the sting of the desk and went down.

With momentum shifting his manner, Sathiyan served at 11-10 to assert the essential level to take the difficulty to the decider.

In the final recreation, Uda held the higher hand and stopped Sathiyan properly quick, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 9/11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6 win.

Sathyan’s first-round exit, nonetheless, fetched him USD 2,250.