Asian Cup TT | G Sathiyan upsets Wong Chun Ting in positions 5-8 match, books ticket to World Cup
After G Sathiyan’s campaign at the ongoing ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup came to an end in the quarter-final round yesterday, the Indian paddler defeated Wong Chun Ting in positions 5-8 match and sealed a place in the World Cup. Sathiyan will now face Lin Yun-Ju of Chinese Taipei for the fifth place.
Sathiyan has made his way into the Table Tennis World Cup to be held in Chengdu, China from October 25 this year as he defeated world no. 14 Wong Chun 12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 after getting knocked out of the Asian Cup. Earlier in the day, the world no. 8 from India had lost to China’s Ma Long in the quarter-final encounter. The world no. 1 Long defeated Sathiyan 11-5, 11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3 in the men’s singles top eight round in Yokohama, Japan.
The top-ranked paddler from India will now meet Lin Yun-Ju of Chinese Taipei with an aim of grabbing the fifth place in the ongoing continental tournament.
“I had the measure of my opponent (Wong) in spite of the first two extended games. Once I took the third and fourth games, I knew I was close to it (win),” Sathiyan said after the match, reported The Scroll.
“It was a big win. It is my first time winning against a top-10 player in an international tournament. I think it is the biggest win in my career so far. I am very happy. I am looking forward to playing with Lin Yun-Ju tomorrow. He is also a strong player.”
India’s veteran table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal and top-ranked female paddler Manika Batra were knocked out on the first day of the completion in the group stages in men’s singles and women’s singles events respectively.Â
