BUSAN, South Korea – The Chinese women’s table tennis team started their title defense with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over India at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals. Despite dropping the first two matches, China rallied to secure the win and avoid an upset.
World No. 155 Ayhika Mukherjee stunned everyone by defeating top-ranked Sun Yingsha in the opening match. Mukherjee’s impressive defensive play gave her a 12-10, 2-11, 13-11, 11-6 victory.
“I wasn’t quite prepared for some crucial points,” admitted Sun afterwards.
Mukherjee, visibly excited, called it the “best victory in my lifetime.” She emphasized her focus on playing her best against the world champion and not thinking about the outcome.
Wang Manyu brought China back on track with a convincing 11-3, 11-8, 13-15, 11-7 win over India’s highest-ranked player, Manika Batra.
However, India surprised again with 49th-ranked Sreeja Akula pulling off an upset against Wang Yidi, who is 47 places higher in the rankings. Akula controlled the match, winning 11-7, 11-9, 13-11.
“I struggled at key moments,” said Wang Yidi, acknowledging her opponent’s pressure and her own inability to adapt.
With the match hanging in the balance, Sun regained her form against Batra. Despite dropping the third set, she sealed the victory for China with an 11-3, 11-6, 11-13, 11-9 win.
While China ultimately secured the win, India’s strong performance served as a warning to all contenders in the tournament. Mukherjee and Akula’s victories showcased the depth and potential of the Indian team.