WTT Star Contender boosts Paris 2024 qualification hopes of Indian paddlers
The 25-year-old paddler Sreeja was the standout performer for India in the tournament as she concluded her campaign in the singles quarterfinals which saw her climbing up 38 spots
Sreeja Akula
NEW DELHI: The recently concluded World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender Goa not only recorded historic Indian participation for a WTT event with country’s 43 paddler competing but also bolstered its qualification chances for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as they racked up some valuable rankings points with performances.
The tournament also witnessed the global table tennis stars ascending at Mapusa’s Peddem Indoor Stadium with the French teenage sensation World No. 6 Felix Lebrun and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Cheng I-Ching lifting the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively.
The 25-year-old Hyderabad paddler Sreeja was the standout performer for India in the tournament as she concluded her campaign in the singles quarterfinals which saw her climbing up 38 spots to secure a career-best world rankings.
“WTT Star Contender Goa 2024 was a game-changer for me, it came at the right time and everything went well for me considering this is an Olympics year. I thank the organisers, my coach, physio and fans for their support. Playing in the home country is always a good feeling because we are used to playing in this environment and climatic conditions. It takes time to adapt to the conditions when you play in other countries. Thus, it was good for Indian players to play in India. This performance will also boost my confidence going forward,” Sreeja said.
With the current world rankings of 36 and 51 respectively, Manika Batra and Sreeja have now strengthened their chances for the Paris Olympics qualification.
The prestigious tournament also witnessed five Indian pairs making it to the quarter-finals across categories which is a rarity in a WTT Star Contender event.
“This year’s tournament was more important for our Indian players considering the upcoming Paris Olympics and I was delighted to see players like Sreeja Akula, Manika Batra taking advantage of the home support and collecting crucial ranking points,” said Deepak Malik, tournament director and COO and Co-Founder of Stupa Sports Analytics.
“With the participation of top international players and intense competition, it also gave Indians much-needed momentum ahead of the crucial World Team Table Tennis Championships. I wish them best luck,” Malik added.
Following WTT Star Contender Goa 2024, the focus now shifts to World Team Table Tennis Championships, scheduled from February 16 to 25, where Top-8 teams will confirm its places in the Paris Olympics.