Asian Games 2023: Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra to lead India's table tennis squad

Achanta Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra will lead Indias 10member table tennis squad at the Hangzhou Asian Games in SeptemberOctober with an aim to match the historic high of the previous editionThe Indian contingent had ended a 60year wait for a table tennis medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta five years ago The squad exceeded all expectations by winning bronze in mens team and mixed doublesThe senior selection committee of the Table Tennis Federation of India TTFI named a 10member squad comprising five men and five women for the upcoming 26th Asian Championships in Pyeongchang Korea as well as the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou ChinaThe Asian Championships in Korea are scheduled between September 3 and 10 while the Asian Games are between September 23 and October 2Sharath who in all likelihood will feature in his last continental games will spearhead the mens pack with G Sathiyan Harmeet Desai Manav Thakkar and Manush ShahManika on the other hand will guide a young womens team comprising Sreeja Akula Sutirtha Mukherjee Ayhika Mukherjee and Diya ChitaleWith restrictions on two singles entries per gender at the Asian Games the selectors have given their nod to Sharath Sathiyan Manika and Sreeja for the mens and womens singles respectivelyThe selectors have justified their decision and faith based on the chosen individuals reputation experience and world ranking pointsHowever in the Asian Championships there are no such limitations and all the men and women players are eligible to play in the singles eventsSharath will play only in the mens doubles in Hangzhou and Manika in the mixed doubles both combining with SathiyanSharath and Manika have opted out of other doubles events giving a free hand to the selectors on the premise that they would not want to disturb the pairs already performing well said the TTFI in a statementAlso Read Asian Games immediate target but Paris 2024 remain Sharath Kamals main goalThe leftright combination of Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar will be the second mens doubles squadIn the womens doubles the selectors have gone with the pair of Ayhika and Sutirtha following its fantastic title win in Tunis and Sreeja and Diya will be the second duoHarmeet will pair up with Sreeja in the second mixed doublesSharath and Manika had paired up in Indonesia five years ago to secure a memorable bronzeThe squadsMen A Sharath Kamal G Sathiyan Harmeet Desai Manav Thakkar and Manush ShahReserve 1 SFR Snehit 2 Sanil ShettyWomen Manika Batra Sreeja Akula Sutirtha Mukherjee Ayhika Mukherjee and Diya ChitaleReserve 1 Archana Kamath 2 Reeth RishyaMens Doubles A Sharath KamalG Sathiyan and Manav ThakkarManush ShahWomens Doubles Sutirtha MukherjeeAyhika Mukherjee and Sreeja AkulaDiya ChitaleMixed Doubles Manika BatraG Sathiyan and Sreeja AkulaHarmeet DesaiThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever