Lagos, Nigeria – Indian paddlers concluded their impressive run at the WTT Contender Lagos on Saturday with a gold medal in men’s doubles and a silver medal in women’s singles, marking a successful outing for the contingent.
Sreeja Akula Finishes as Women’s Singles Runner-Up
India’s Sreeja Akula fought valiantly but ultimately ended her women’s singles campaign as the runner-up, losing 1-4 to Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto in a 48-minute summit clash.
- Hashimoto dominated the early proceedings, establishing a significant lead by winning the first three games convincingly with scores of 11-7, 11-3, and 11-4.
- However, the 26-year-old Indian showed her resilience, clawing back to win the fourth game 11-9, keeping her hopes alive.
- The fifth game was a nail-biter. Sreeja started strongly and even held a lead at 10-9, but Hashimoto showcased her composure, equalizing and then sealing the game 13-11, thus clinching the match and the title.
Akula’s journey to the final included a tough 39-minute semifinal victory over France’s Prithika Pavade, which she won 11-7, 11-4, 11-13, 6-11, 11-9. Her overall performance in the tournament, including an earlier upset over top seed Hina Hayata, showcased her growing prowess on the international stage.
Sathiyan and Akash Pal Clinch Men’s Doubles Gold
Earlier in the day, the Indian duo of Gnanasekaran Sathiyan and Akash Pal delivered a commanding performance to clinch the men’s doubles title. They defeated the French pair of Leo de Nodrest and Jules Rolland in a swift final.
- Sathiyan and Pal secured the title in under 22 minutes, demonstrating their dominance with a straight-games victory of 11-9, 11-4, 11-9.
This gold medal win adds a significant achievement to India’s performance at the WTT Contender Lagos, highlighting the strength in its doubles pairings.
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