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Asian Video games bronze medallist Ayhika Mukherjee stated she is “no longer only a doubles specialist” and will pair up with any participant, after her omission from the three-member ladies’s desk tennis workforce for the Paris Olympics. Ayhika used to be named as a reserve and can go back and forth with the squad to Paris.

India's Sutirtha Mukherjee (L) and Ayhika Mukherjee (R) celebrate a point as they compete against China's Chen Meng and Wang Yidi in the women's doubles quarter-final table tennis match(AFP)
India’s Sutirtha Mukherjee (L) and Ayhika Mukherjee (R) have a good time some degree as they compete towards China’s Chen Meng and Wang Yidi within the ladies’s doubles quarter-final desk tennis fit(AFP)

In pointing out that the 3rd participant’s pick out along Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula used to be debated, the federation’s variety committee selected Archana Kamath over Ayhika in keeping with, amongst different components, her greater global singles score (102 to Ayhika’s 136). What additionally may just’ve long gone in Archana’s favour is that she and Manika have performed doubles in combination at the excursion up to now (on the Olympics, workforce occasions include 4 singles and one doubles suits).

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“My present international score in ladies’s doubles (with Sutirtha Mukherjee) is 13. My particular person doubles score is 31, adopted via Sreeja at 59, Diya (Chitale) at 60, Archana at 97 and Manika didi at 99,” Ayhika stated. “It’s not that i am only a doubles specialist; I’ve given some remarkable singles performances each at nationwide and global stage and I will play as a couple with some other participant protecting in thoughts more than a few components. I’ve additionally performed as a couple with Sreeja up to now.”

Ayhika gained a ancient Asian Video games doubles medal with Sutirtha remaining yr and performed a key function at this yr’s Workforce Worlds — she defeated international No. 1 Chinese language Solar Yingsha and a couple of different higher-ranked gamers — from the place the ladies’s workforce all however showed the Paris spot. Ayhika stated nobody from the federation or the choice committee reached out to her about their determination.

“My self assurance isn’t damaged and goals have no longer shattered. I think about my onerous paintings. No person can expect the long run and the rest can occur,” Ayhika stated, including that she’s going to proceed to coach with Paris in thoughts. “I’ve all the time contributed and delivered effects when it used to be anticipated from me, both at doubles or singles occasions in primary tournaments. The reactions from everybody after the workforce announcement speaks for itself on how I might have felt.”

The paddler from Naihati, who is not a part of the TOPS core or building team and simplest were given a personal sponsor after the Asian Video games, stated restricted finances prohibit her approach to go back and forth in a foreign country to compete in WTT tournaments and thereby attempt to push her particular person score. In 2024 to this point, she participated in 5 WTT occasions out of the country (no longer together with workforce occasions), whilst Archana competed in 8.

“With the federation’s toughen, I will play most 5-6 occasions, and that too depends upon my efficiency and score. Since It’s not that i am a part of TOPS in contrast to different gamers, to play extra tournaments and higher my score, I’ve to self fund. And that’s tricky,” she stated.