India’s high desk tennis participant and Commonwealth Games medallist Sreeja Akula is on a excessive after her current success and is hoping to do effectively on the World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender Goa 2023, scheduled to be held between February 27 and March 5.
Sreeja Akula, the diminutive nationwide ladies’s desk tennis champion from Hyderabad, has had a dream run for the previous 10 months.
After profitable her maiden nationwide crown in April final 12 months in Shillong, Sreeja skilled the excessive of a Commonwealth Games gold for the nation within the blended doubles in Birmingham final 12 months, partnering Indian legend Sharath Kamal.
That efficiency, her grit and her never-say-die angle endeared her to followers and introduced her into the nationwide limelight for the primary time.
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As she prepares to participate in a primary residence World Table Tennis (WTT) occasion in Panjim’s Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Sreeja exudes confidence throughout a freewheeling chat.
“I purpose to play the quarterfinals,” the Reserve Bank of India employee said confidently from her home in Hyderabad when probed on her goal in the tournament.
She was naturally exhausted after a busy training schedule that begins with an hour or so of fitness training followed by two and a half hours of practice. But that did not prevent the calm, confident and warm smile from disappearing for even a second. It camouflaged a fierce competitor underneath.
Sreeja has grown in experience every day since Birmingham high and is clearly not one to sit back on her laurels.
After qualifying for the World Table Tennis Championships (Durban, May 2023) singles draw in January in Lusail, Qatar, Sreeja played a WTT Contender event in Jordan where she gave a fright to world No. 5 Mima Ito of Japan, going down in four games in the round of 32.
“I gave her a tough fight in all the games and even took a game off her. It has given me a lot of confidence,” Sreeja was quoted as saying by the organisers in a launch.
She was in little question in regards to the powerful process at hand in Goa nevertheless, saying, “It goes to be a really powerful match as all the highest gamers are collaborating. It is certainly the strongest singles primary draw I’ve performed in. I’ve participated in Star Contender occasions earlier than however the discipline was not this excessive in high quality.
“I additionally participated within the Singapore Grand Smash final 12 months however solely within the qualifiers. I’ll try to not to take any strain and take it to match by match. Training has been occurring very effectively and I’m assured of a great present.”
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On the gap between strong Table Tennis nations like China, Korea, Japan, Sweden, Germany and India, Sreeja felt the gap is closing down.
“The gap is definitely coming down now. We have seen how Manika Di has recently beaten top Chinese and Japanese players also. Even our juniors like Suhana, and Yashaswini are doing very well so we are definitely getting better.
“The gap I believe comes in fitness levels mainly. Also, the Asian nations particularly have it in their blood you can say. They have sports schools and villages where people leave their children at the age of four and five. So it’s like a tradition. So the environment there is totally different. But as I said, we are definitely closing the gap and TT is really growing fast in the country.”
Sreeja goals to attain Goa on Sunday, After bidding adieu to her elder sister, additionally a former Table Tennis participant, who moved to the US simply final week. She will then have sufficient time to follow on the venue, earlier than the primary draw begins on March 1.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)
