Sreeja Akula has etched her name in Indian sports history by becoming the first Indian paddler to win a WTT Contender Singles title. Akula's remarkable performance culminated in a 4-1 victory over China's rising star Ding Yijie in the final.

Ranked 38th in the world, Akula faced a challenging start, losing the first game to Ding with a tight scoreline of 10-12. However, she showcased her resilience and skill by sweeping the next four games with scores of 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, and 11-6, securing a historic win.

Not only did Akula achieve this unprecedented singles title, but she also made history by being the first Indian paddler to reach the finals of a WTT Contender tournament. This milestone was achieved following a closely contested semi-final against fellow Indian paddler Sutirtha Mukherjee, which Akula won 3-2.

Adding to her impressive achievements, Akula, alongside Archana Kamath, clinched the women’s doubles title. The duo dominated their compatriots Diya Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade with a 3-0 victory (11-9, 11-6, 12-10) earlier on Sunday. Diya and Yashaswini had previously defeated China’s Sun Sinan and Ding 3-1 (14-12, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7) in their semi-final match, while Akula and Kamath overcame another Indian pair, Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee, to reach the final.

The tournament was a significant event for Indian table tennis, as it also saw Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar become the first Indian male duo to win a WTT Contender doubles title. They secured their victory with a 3-0 win (11-8, 11-9, 11-8) against local favorites Azeez Solanke and Olajide Omotayo in the men’s doubles final.

This series of victories marks a momentous occasion for Indian table tennis, highlighting the growing prowess and competitive spirit of Indian paddlers on the global stage. Sreeja Akula’s triumph in the singles category, coupled with the success in doubles by Akula, Kamath, Desai, and Thakkar, signals a promising future for the sport in India.