Tokyo: Crazy Indian Harapan for a Table Tennis Medal at the Tokyo Olympics disappeared in a short time with Shahhath Kamal and Manika Batra lost to the third seed from China Taipei, Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching, in mixed doubles 16 here on Saturday , Indians must make all the opportunities to count against superior opponents but they cannot do it after leading 5-1 and 5-3 in the first two matches.
In the end, it was a convenient victory 11-8, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 for the Taipei Chinese pair.
The power of Lin 19 years from both sides is too much to handle for the 12th seed pair Sharath and Manika, who came to the Olympics after winning the qualifying competition.
Indians do not have answers to tops tops-spin like bullets from forehand and backhand.
Manika did Lin and Cheng’s problems every time he could use a long rubber long but the Chinese Taipei duo had been prepared properly and did not allow the top shepherd to play the game.
Indians must make a 5-1 main count in the first match to have the opportunity in the match but Lin and Cheng won eight consecutive points to get control.
Sharath and Manika have been training together for three days in the National Camp before going up to Tokyo.
With their performance in the qualifying event, the winner of the Asian Games bronze medal has raised the hope of a historic medal at the Olympics.
Manika and Sutirtha Mukherjee will play their female first round match on Saturday.