Manav became the first Indian to enter the semifinals of a Star Contender event.
| Photo Credit: R. Ravindran
Manav Thakkar’s magnificent performance overshadowed Sharath Kamal’s farewell match at the WTT Star Contender at the Nehru Indoor Stadium here on Saturday.
Manav, the highest-ranked Indian in the world at 63, pulled off an upset win over Lim Jonghoon of South Korea. The 5-11, 12-10, 3-11, 11-6, 11-1 win against the 43rd-ranked Lim also ensured Manav became the lone Indian to make it the semifinals.
The 25-year-old also became the first Indian to enter the semifinals of a Star Contender event.
Earlier in the day, Sharath played his last professional match as he failed to get past S.F.R. Snehit 9-11, 8-11, 9-11 in the pre-quarterfinals.
“There’s a good bench strength and I am pretty sure I’m leaving it in very safe hands,” signed off the 42-year-old Sharath.
Lim, who achieved a career-best world No. 16 ranking two years back, was quicker and faster in the rallies against Manav. However, there was a change of fortunes for Manav in the fourth game.
Trailing 2-6, Manav clinched nine straight points in a row to win the game and surged to a 9-0 lead in the decider. He won a total of 18 points on the trot and then closed out the tie to script a stunning win.
Manav was relieved that the monkey was off his shoulders. “Every time there is a tournament in India, I am under pressure, and I lose. In the two previous Star Contender events in Goa, I lost in the final qualifying round. It’s the same thing in Senior National championships and only once I’ve reached the final in 2019,” said an excited Manav who will take on Thibault Poret.
The 20-year-old Frenchman defeated Snehit 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6 in the last-eight clash.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Tomakazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata, the top seeds in both the men’s and women’s section, crashed out.
A scratchy Harimoto went down to Tomislav Pucar of Croatia while defensive paddler Honoka Hashimoto of Japan upset Hina in the round of 16.
Second seed Hugo Calderano of Brazil and fifth seed Omar Assar of Egypt also lost in the pre-quarterfinals. Hugo lost to Lim while Omar went down to Korea’s Oh Junsung.
Krittwika Roy, the lone Indian woman in the last 16, failed to get past Miyu Nagasaki of Japan.
The results (quarterfinals): Men’s singles: Oh Junsung (Kor) bt Tomislav Pucar (Cro) 12-10, 7-11, 13-11, 11-4; Thibault Poret (Fra) bt S.F.R. Snehit 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6; Manav Thakkar bt Lim Jonghoon (Kor) 11-5, 10-12, 3-11, 11-6, 11-1; Flavien Coton (Fra) bt Jonathan Groth (Den) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8.
Women’s singles: Shin Yubin (Kor) bt Miyu Nagasaki (Jpn) 11-3, 12-10, 11-8; Honoka Hashimoto (Jpn) bt Joo Cheonhui (Kor) 11-6, 11-2, 11-13, 11-6; Kim Naeyeong (Kor) bt Adriana Diaz (Pur) 11-3, 11-9, 12-10; Miwa Harimoto (Jpn) bt Yuan Wan (Ger) 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 11-4.
Published – March 29, 2025 09:56 pm IST