Paris Olympics 2024 Table Tennis: Sreeja Akula storms into pre-quarterfinals with sensational win over Zeng Jian in Round of 32
Sreeja Akula would be on cloud nine after putting in a sensational performance in a nerve-wracking Round of 32 match at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Sreeja defeated Singapore’s Zeng Jian 4-2 to advance into the round of 16. She finished the match with a scoreline that read 9-11, 12-10, 11-4,11-5, 10-12, 12-10.
Sreeja became only the second Indian table tennis player after Manika Batra to have made it to the pre-quarterfinals of the quadrennial event.
The first set was highly competitive, with both paddlers going neck to neck. Though Zeng looked in control of the set initially, leading 8-4 at one point, Sreeja made a good comeback to take it to 10-10. The Singaporean eventually won the set 11-9, taking a 1-0 lead.
Another closely fought second set saw Sreeja come back into the match. The two players continued to force errors out of each other, with the score being 10-10, heading into a nail-biting finish. Sreeja needed to win the set to keep her hopes alive, and so she did. The Indian took the set 12-10, making it 1-1.
The third set, which could have changed the course of the match, saw Sreeja come into her element. In a more confident display, the Indian won the round 11-4, drawing the advantage towards her with a 2-1 lead.
Sreeja Akula to play World No.1 Sun Yingsha in the Round of 16 of Paris Olympics 2024
Sreeja Akula was visibly close to being at her best. Unlike the first two sets, the fourth set was a one-sided story. There was not much the Singaporean paddler could come up with. India’s highest-ranked female player dominated the set, eventually winning it 11-5.
Sreeja Akula came into the fifth set looking to complete formalities. However, Zeng got stuck in taking the first point in the set. Another nail-biting round came down to its final stages as it stood equal at 10-10. Zeng took the set 12-10, keeping her hopes alive.
A scintillating exhibit of table tennis continued deep into the sixth round. They traded blows to keep the scoreline neck-to-neck. It came down to 10-10, with Sreeja inches away from victory. The rising star did not flinch as she closed off the set 12-10, registering a memorable Olympics victory on her birthday.
Sreeja will now be competing against World No. 1 Sun Yingsha of China in the round of 16 in Paris and will hope to go all the way to a podium finish.