Manika, Sharath and Sathiyan enter TT pre-quarters at Asian Games

Indian paddlers Manika Batra and Sharath Kamal progressed to the women's and men's singles pre-quarterfinals in the table tennis competition of the 18th Asian Games here today.

Sathiyan Gnanasekaran also made it to the round of 16 but it was curtains for Mouma Das in women's singles.

Manika, who won four medals at the Commonwealth Games, thrashed Nanthana Komwong 4-0 (11-3 11-7 11-3 11-6) in a lop-sided match in the round of 32, while the experienced Sharath notched up a 4-0 (11-4 11-8 11-7 11-5) win over Pakistan's 52-year-old Muhammad Asim Qureshi.

Later in the day, Sathiyan defeated Indonesia's Ficky Supit Santoso 4-2 (11-3 9-11 14-12 11-1 9-11) in a round of 32 match.

Earlier, Mouma lost 0-4 (6-11 5-11 6-11 6-11) to Chinese Taipei's Chen Szuyu in a round of 32 match.

India's mixed doubles duo of Sharath and Manika had won a historic bronze yesterday. Sharath had earlier led the men's team to a bronze, ending India's 60-year-wait for a maiden table tennis medal at the Asian Games.