Ayhika, Sutirtha bag bronze medal in women’s double in table tennis

HANGZHOU: Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee are a unique pair in table tennis. They both play with different rubbers on their racquets, thus giving their opponents the taste of four rubbers and different variations in speed, spin and combination.

They are also ‘different’ table tennis players particularly Sutirtha — overweight and happy with how they are and playing in the international Circuit at a time when being lean and thin is the norm.

On Monday, Ayhika and Sutirtha put up a brave fight but went down to North Korea’s Suyong Cha and Sugyong Pak losing the second semifinal 3-4 to claim the bronze medal in women’s doubles table tennis at the Asian Games here on Monday.

The Indian pair was bidding to win a historic maiden silver medal in the Asian Games table tennis competition but were beaten in a thriller by the North Korean pair that came back after losing the first game. Ayhika and Sutirtha lost the match 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 2-11 in a well-fought encounter.

“We tried our best today and gave it our all. But in the seventh and final we conceded a big lead and could not fight back,” said Ayhika after the match.

On winning their first medal in the Asian Games, Ayhika said, “It feels surreal. The competitions are very tough. We are from the same academy (in Kolkata) and know each other’s game so well. We tried our best but could not win.” (IANS)

Also Read: Asian Games 2023: Indian Duo Ayhika & Sutirtha Win Bronze in the Women's Doubles

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