Manika Batra Stars In India's Win Over Hungary At World Championships

It was Woojin's turn to sizzle on Monday, blowing the top-ranked Indian male away 3-0 (11-4, 12-10, 11-8) as India went down to South Korea without much of a fight at the 2024 c in Busan. Only Sharath Kamal managed to snatch a game in his 3-1 (9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11) defeat to Lee Sang Su after G Sathiyan had also succumbed 3-0 (5-11, 7-11, 7-11) to Lim Jonghoon.

The Indian women's team blanked Uzbekistan 3-0 even as it fielded Archana Kamath and Diya Chitale against an opposition that had just one ranked player. While Archana defeated Rimma Gufranova 3-0 (11-7, 11-3, 11-6) in the first match, young Diya finished things off with a 3-1 (11-6, 10-12, 11-4, 11-6) win over Rozalina Khadjieva. India No. 1 Manika Batra breezed past Markhabo Magdieva 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-1) in between as Ayhika Mukherjee and Sreeja Akula were rested.

The women's team, currently second in Group 1 behind China, has the knockouts spot well in sight and will take on Spain in its final group tie on Tuesday. Should they beat the Spaniards, India will finish a strong second in the group and draw one of the third-placed teams from the other groups in the Round of 32. The quarter-finalists here will get a Paris Olympics team spot.