Indian Table Tennis Duo Stunned in Paris 2024 Qualifiers: Read about India’s disappointment at the World Mixed Doubles Table Tennis Olympic Qualifiers as Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manika Batra, ranked 18th, miss out on a Paris 2024 quota after a stunning defeat in the quarter-finals against a lower-ranked Malaysian pair.
In a surprising turn of events at the World Mixed Doubles Table Tennis Olympic Qualification tournament held in Havirov, Czechia, India’s hopes for securing a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics were dashed as the country’s mixed doubles pair, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manika Batra, faced a stunning defeat in the quarter-finals.
Ranked 18th in the latest ITTF mixed doubles world rankings, the Indian duo faced off against a Malaysian pair, Javen Choong and Karen Lyne, ranked 153rd globally. Despite their higher ranking, Sathiyan and Batra struggled to maintain control throughout the match, ultimately succumbing to a 4-1 defeat (11-9, 11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8).
This loss marked their second and final opportunity to secure a Paris Olympics quota at the World Mixed Doubles Table Tennis Olympic Qualifiers, following a previous quarter-final loss to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea pair, Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong.
The defeat not only spelled disappointment for the Indian duo but also highlighted the unpredictable nature of competitive sports, where rankings do not always guarantee success on the field.
On a brighter note, India had already secured Paris 2024 quotas for the women’s and men’s teams based on rankings, ensuring representation in both singles and team events. However, the failure to secure a mixed doubles quota adds a tinge of regret to India’s Olympic aspirations in table tennis.
With the Czechia meet serving as the final qualifying event for the mixed doubles table tennis competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the focus now shifts to the possibility of obtaining quotas through rankings. The upcoming deadline of May 7, 2024, looms large as the Indian duo, currently ranked 18th in the world, will hope for a favorable outcome to secure their spot in the prestigious event.
