Achanta Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra enter mixed doubles final in Asian Olympic qualifier

The star Indian pair of Achanta Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra defeated Singapore’s Kon Pang Yew An and Lin Ye 4-2 in the final-four clash in Doha on Friday to make it to the mixed doubles final in the Asian Olympic qualifier. The world No 19 Indian pair has now set up a final clash against the world No 8 Korean duo of Song-Soo Lee and Jehi Geon on Saturday and is now away from qualifying for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Having already achieved a singles berth on Thursday and now with a double qualification goal, Sharath and Manika faced a tough challenge in the early part of the match as the score was tied 2–2 after the fourth game.

However, the 2018 Asian Games bronze medalist pair managed to take an edge over the opponent and won 12–10, 9–11, 11–5, 5–11, 11–8, 13–11 in a row. 50 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Korean duo Lee and Jeon advanced to the finals with 4.21, 11-11, 11-4, 11-11, 11-8, 11-‘S against Thailand’s Padanavriyavachakul and Suthasini Savetabut.

Promoted

Earlier on Thursday, all four Indian paddlers Sharath, Manika, Gyanasekharan Sathiyan and Sutirth Mukherjee earned their own singles qualification at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

While Sathiyan and Sutirth became winners in their categories of the South Asian group, Sharath and Manika sealed the Tokyo berth in place of the second-placed players.