Ayhika Mukherjee had a rather audacious request to her teammates and coach a night before the Indian women's team was to begin its 2024 World Team Table Tennis Championships campaign against top seeds China.
"I said to them that I want to play Sun Yingsha. Please put me with her if possible and plan the strategy in a way that I can play with her," Ayhika says.
Sun Yingsha is the world's topranked women's singles player, the best among the Chinese and someone who had never been beaten in this tournament. Most players would be quietly glad to avoid crossing her path. Ayhika instead asked for exactly that.
"Because she is the best in the world-what else could be more exciting and challenging," she says, smiling. The eagerness to fight in the mind translated into execution to win on the table. The Indian, ranked 155 in singles, produced one of the most remarkable results of the prestigious team event in stunning the world No. 1 in the opening rubber 3-1.
That, along with Sreeja Akula getting past No. 2 Wang Yidi in a 3-2 defeat to the eventual champions, set the tone for the Indian women's outing in the team Worlds. It ended with a Round of 16 finish and them being on the doorsteps of the Paris Olympics berth through the rankings quota.
Esta historia es de la edición February 27, 2024 de Hindustan Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 27, 2024 de Hindustan Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
ED Urges Delhi HC To Defer Hearing In Jain's PMLA Case
The Delhi high court on Monday sought the response of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi minister Satyendra Jain on a plea moved by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking a stay on the trial court proceedings in a 2017 money laundering case until it files a supplementary charge-sheet.
TN-Centre NEP standoff needless in any language
The schism emerging between the Tamil Nadu government and the Union government over the National Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language formula is a classic case of leaders talking at each other rather than to each other.
As US Clears Rana Extradition, Focus on 6 Other Conspirators
With Pakistani-Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana facing imminent extradition to India following US approval, there is renewed attention on six other alleged conspirators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, who remain in Pakistan without facing significant legal consequences, senior Indian security officials say.
RPF flags 'lapses' behind stampede
Two announcements, three minutes apart, about a Prayagraj-bound Kumbh special train, but mentioning different platforms may have sparked the deadly stampede that killed at least 18 at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night, a report of the incident by the Railway Protection Force said.
Faecal Coliform Levels High Amid Maha Kumbh: CPCB
The National Green Tribunal was informed on Monday, through a report by the CPCB, that various locations in Prayagraj during the ongoing Maha Kumbh were not conforming to the primary water quality for bathing with respect to the level of faecal coliform.
Now, BWGs Told to Register With MCD
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Monday said that it will now be mandatory for the Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) in the city to register with the civic body and ensure waste disposal as per the Solid Waste Management (SWM) rules.
2-YR-OLD SITTING ON BALCONY KILLED IN CELEBRATORY FIRING DURING WEDDING
A two-year-old boy, who was watching a wedding procession snake through his congested Noida neighbourhood on Sunday night, was killed after the revellers fired a few shots as part of celebratory firing and struck him in the head, police officers said on Monday.
Pak National With 'Links' To Gogoi's Wife Booked
The Assam Police on Monday filed an FIR against Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh for trying to disrupt communal harmony and working against the nation's interest by commenting on India's internal affairs on social media, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, amid controversy over Sheikh's links with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi's wife, Elizabeth.
Drag-flicker Lakra makes a mark, guided by Peillat
There is a big difference between the Amandeep Lakra of before and after Hockey India League (HIL).
Man who raped, killed tourist given life term
THE SESSIONS JUDGE SENTENCED CONVICT TO 3-YEAR IMPRISONMENT FOR DESTROYING EVIDENCE. BOTH SENTENCES WILL BE RUNNING CONCURRENTLY
