Foz do Iguacu, Brazil – Indian paddler Manika Batra showcased remarkable resilience on Saturday, staging a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against South Korea’s Kim Nayeong to secure her spot in the quarterfinals of the WTT Star Contender Foz do Iguacu in Brazil. While Batra soared, the singles campaigns for Indian men’s paddlers Manush Shah and Harmeet Desai concluded in the Round of 16.
Batra’s Gritty Comeback
Manika Batra, facing the seventh-seeded Kim Nayeong, stumbled in the opening game, losing 6-11. However, the Indian star quickly regrouped, leveling the score by taking the second game 11-5. She then completely dominated the third game, at one point leading 10-0 before clinching it to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The South Korean managed to force a decider with an 11-7 win in the fourth game, but Batra held her nerve, winning the final game 11-4. The intense 35-minute encounter saw Batra emerge victorious, advancing to the last eight of the competition.
Men’s Singles Challenge Concludes
Following Batra’s triumph, it was a battle of the southpaws as Manush Shah took on second-seed Benedikt Duda of Germany in their Round of 16 match. Shah started strong, winning the first game 11-4. However, Duda, reaffirming his seeding, then clinched three consecutive games (11-6, 11-8, 11-7) to defeat the Indian in 30 minutes, booking his spot in the quarterfinals.
Earlier in the day, Harmeet Desai also saw his singles campaign cut short. He suffered a 1-3 defeat against South Korea’s fourth-seed Oh Jun-sung in a match that lasted just over 30 minutes. Harmeet conceded the first game 3-11 after losing five consecutive points. Although he showed improvement in the second, Jun-sung claimed it 11-8 for a 2-0 lead. Harmeet managed to open his account with an 11-9 win in the third game, but Jun-sung closed out the match with an 11-5 victory in the fourth.
Men’s Doubles Final Awaits
Despite their singles exits, Indian interest remains strong in the doubles categories. The top-seeded men’s doubles pair of Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar are set to face the formidable second-seeded German duo of Benedikt Duda and Dang Qiu in the final later in the day, promising another high-stakes encounter for India at the WTT Star Contender.
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