WTT Feeder Chennai: Manav Thakkar, Yoo Yerin win singles titles

Thakkar came back from two games down to win the title. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

India’s Manav Thakkar showed why he was the top seed at the WTT Feeder Chennai. Against an in-form Samuel Walker of England, who had dropped just two games en route to the final, Manav produced a remarkable fightback, recovering from a two-game deficit to win 6-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-8 and clinch his maiden international men’s singles title at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University on Sunday.

Walker had been exceptional with his attacks from the back of the table on both flanks proving ferocious. He stuck his guns through the first two games against Manav.

At 9-9 in the third, Manav changed his serve, opted for a short backhand delivery that denied Walker the space to unleash his attacking shots. The Indian also grew in confidence, winning several points in long rallies.

“Over the last two or three years, I have become a little more mature in my playing style. The draw was tough, but I was well prepared, having come from the China Smash. I learnt a lot after the bad patch at the Asian Games. The change in blade also helped. Though I use Tibhar equipment, I switched from the Alexis Lebrun blade to the Felix Lebrun blade. It helped me control the rallies better. I have to say I had lost my first final to Sathiyan in the WTT Feeder Beirut in 2024,” Manav told Sportstar.

Earlier, South Korea’s second seed Yoo Yerin trounced India’s Sutirtha Mukherjee 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 to claim her maiden international singles title. Much was expected of Sutirtha, who had upset top seed Yang Ha-eun in the semifinals. But against Yerin, she was subdued. Her counter-attacks lacked precision, while a string of unforced errors allowed the Korean to take control.

RESULTS

Men

Singles - Final: Manav Thakkar bt Samuel Walker (Eng) 6-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-8; Semifinals: Manav bt G. Sathiyan 5-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-2; Walker bt SFR Snehit 11-4, 11-8, 11-9.

Doubles - Final: Sathiyan & Harmeet Desai bt Payas Jain & Priyanuj Bhattacharyya 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8.

Women

Singles - Final: Yoo Yerin (South Korea) bt Sutirtha Mukherjee 11-6, 11-7, 11-9; Semifinals: Sutirtha bt Yang Ha Eun (South Korea) 11-4, 11-7, 13-11; Yerin bt Swara Karmarkar 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10

Doubles - Final: Kim Seoyun & Yein Jeong (South Korea) bt Haelin Lee & Gyurin Kim (South Korea) 11-3, 11-8, 11-3.

Mixed doubles

Final: Manav & Taneesh Kotecha bt Mehan Senthil & Ananya Muralidharan 15-17, 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6.