NEW DELHI: Indian table tennis player Sreeja Akula achieved a new career-high ranking of world No. 24 following her victory at the WTT Contender Lagos tournament.
According to ANI, this accomplishment also makes her the highest-ranked Indian player in the women's singles category, surpassing Manika Batra.
The latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings, released on Tuesday, saw the 25-year-old Sreeja climb 19 positions to reach world No. 24.
This historic feat comes after she became the first Indian to win a singles title at a World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender event.
In the thrilling final match held in Lagos, Sreeja got the better of Ding Yijie of China 4-1 with a score of 10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6. Not only did Sreeja secure the singles title, but she also emerged victorious in the doubles competition in Lagos.
Sreeja’s achievement has matched the best-ever singles ranking attained by an Indian table tennis player. Previously, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran had reached 24th in the men's singles rankings in 2019, while Manika held the same position in the women's singles category last month.
As part of the Indian table tennis team set to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Sreeja's historic win in Lagos marks her as the first Indian to clinch a WTT Contender singles title.
Sreeja clinched the Lagos singles championship by defeating Yijie Ding of the People's Republic of China 4-1 in the championship match.
Sreeja also showcased her prowess in the doubles event, partnering with Archana Kamath to win the Lagos women's doubles title. The duo triumphed over their compatriots Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade with a 3-0 scoreline in the final match.
The latest ITTF rankings saw Manika slip one position to 29th in the women's singles, while Ayhika Mukherjee, a reserve player for the Indian table tennis team for the Paris 2024 Olympics, climbed an impressive 48 spots to secure the 92nd place.
