BANGKOK, JUL 3 (PTI): Syndrela Das led the charge as India continued its impressive campaign at the ITTF-ATTU Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships, assuring two more medals here on Friday.
The U-19 girls’ doubles pair of Syndrela and Divyanshi Bhowmick produced another strong performance to beat China’s Yao Ruixuan and Jiang Yiyi 7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6 in the semifinals.
The Indian duo recovered twice from a game down before taking control in the decider to book their place in the final, where they will face Japan’s Aoba Takahashi and Misuzu Takeya.
The Japanese duo defeated the Chinese pair of Yan Yutong and Yang Huize 3-2 in the other semifinal.
Earlier, the Indian duo were assured a medal by defeating Thailand’s Thasita Kanaphong and Pimmada Thongnak 11-6, 13-15, 11-9, 11-8 in the quarterfinals.
Syndrela was India’s star performer as she backed up her upset win over China’s Yao Ruixuan in the pre-quarterfinals with a gritty 11-5, 11-7, 5-11, 3-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3 victory over Japan’s Yuna Ojio in the quarterfinals.
Recovering from a 2-3 deficit, she dominated the final two games to become India’s lone singles semifinalist, assuring herself of at least a bronze medal.
Meanwhile, India’s top-seeded mixed doubles pair of Abhinand and Divyanshi settled for a bronze after Thailand’s Thitaphat Preechayan and Kulapassr Vijitviriyagul won 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-5 in the semifinal clash.
Abhinand’s effort drew praise as he continued competing with the damaged racket instead of switching to a replacement.
Earlier, the Indian U-19 boys’ team had won a bronze medal.
India are thus assured of four medals in the championships so far.
India had begun the day with three players reaching the U-19 singles quarterfinals.
In the boys’ event, P.B. Abhinand produced a stirring comeback to beat Chinese Taipei’s Yang Hao-en 11-9, 6-11, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-6 in the pre-quarterfinals despite his racket handle breaking during the match.
Divyanshi Bhowmick also advanced after edging Singapore’s Loy Ming Ying in seven games. M Hansini exited after a spirited seven-game loss to Chinese Taipei’s Wu Ying Syuan, while Ankholika Chakraborty bowed out in the U-15 girls’ Round of 16.
India’s U-19 boys’ doubles challenge ended in the quarterfinals, with Abhinand and Ankur Bhattacharjee losing to the Malaysian pair of Im Jin Zhen and Lai Yong Han, after beating China’s Zhai Jiale and Zhou Guanhong 3-2 in the earlier round.
In the singles quarterfinals, Abhinand and Ankur bowed out in the boys’ event, while Divyanshi’s impressive run also ended in the girls’ last eight.
