On a day that saw the domination by Chinese, Japanese and
Korean paddlers with just one upset, two other Indian girls joined Ayhika in
the second round, providing a silver lining which the three boys—Sudhanshu
Grover, Rohit Rajasekhar and Arjun Ghosh—failed after entering the main draw.
They all, including Grover, surrendered meekly.
In fact, the girls were a notch better with five out of six
making the grade, including local girl Karnam Spoorthy who was the lucky-loser
entrant. The other girl, T. Reeth Rishya, who qualified from her group
yesterday failed to use the opportunity.
Ayhika’s example should be an eye-opener for other juniors.
The girls from Kotkata did the impossible, particularly after being down 1-3.
No doubt, she took the first game rather easily but losing the next three not
only drained her out emotionally but morally too. A pep talk with coach
Kamalesh Mehta at the end of the fourth game did wonders for her.
From then on the teenager was a transformed person. The
anti-rubber and forehand which provided a variety play to Ayhika put her on an
advantageous position as her opponent was struggling to gauge the spin and
speed. Ayhika’s went full blast and kept her chances alive after taking the
fifth game. In the sixth, she kept her cool and won with a forehand winner.
Then in the decider, the Indian was in complete command and slowed down
cleverly to outwit the Hong Kong girl.
Ayhika next takes on Korean Lee Dasom who is ranked 24. But
if only the Kolkatan can repeat what she did in the morning, Dasom can have
some real problems.
As for Manika, highest ranked Indian at 29, Anja Schuh was
no match as the former won 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 to quickly dispose of her
German opponent. The Indian will next play Romanian Bernadette Szocs, who is
seeded 8 here and someone who has proved her mettle in the team game. But it is
not beyond Manika, who has had a very satisfying outing so far.
Suthirtha Mukherjee accounted for Sandrfa Wabik of Poland
4-11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8 in the first round and will take on Brazilian
Caroline Kumahara, who is seeded No. 14 here. Earlier, Caroline had
beaten higher ranked South Korean Lee Zion. In other words, the Indian will be
wary of his Brazilian opponent in the second round.
Results: (Only Indians):
Junior Boys: Lee Chia Cheng (Tpe) bt Sudhanshu
Grover 11-5, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6, Antoine Hachard (Fra) bt Rohit Rajasekhar
7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9, Lin Gaoyuan (Chn) bt Arjun Ghosh 11-3, 11-6,
11-1, 11-4.
Junior Girls: Manika Batra bt Anja Schuh 11-9, 11-8, 11-7,
11-7, Britt Eerland (Ned) bt T. Reeth Rishya 12-10, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8, Gu
Rouchaen (Chn) bt Karnam Spoorthy 11-3, 11-5, 12-10, 11-1, Ayhika Mukherjee bt
Doo Hoi Kem 11-8, 11-13, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8, Suthirtha Mukherjee
bt Sandra Wabik (Pol) 4-11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8.
A TTFI Press release
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