Sreeja Akula becomes first Indian to win WTT Contender singles title

New Delhi, June 24 (HS). Sreeja Akula has become the first Indian paddler to win the WTT Contender singles title. She defeated world number 504 Ding Yijie of China 4-1 (10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6) in the final in Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday.

India's second-ranked paddler also won the women's doubles title after partnering Archana Kamath to beat compatriots Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 12-10).

Sreeja and Archana had won 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 12-10) against Asian Games bronze medallists Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee in the semi-finals.

On the other hand, Diya and Yashaswini had defeated China's Sun Sinan and Ding 3-1 (14-12, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7) in their last-four match.

Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar became the first Indian men's doubles to win at this level, defeating local favourites Azeez Solanke and Olajide Omotayo 3–0 (11–8, 11–9, 11–8) in the men's doubles final.

Sreeja, Archana, Harmeet and Manav are part of the Indian table tennis team for the Paris Olympics, which will be led by Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra.