26-07-2025
Sathiyan-Akash wins; Sreeja loses in final
G. Sathiyan and Akash Pal beat Jules Rolland and Leo De Nodrest of France 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 to win their maiden Tour men's doubles title at the WTT Contender Lagos on Saturday.
This is Sathiyan's second WTT men's doubles title overall.
'Fantastic. We both were unseeded. Still, to beat the French pair by a 3-0 margin was great. We combined well. Akash has a powerful game, and I could place the ball well. We complemented each other,' Sathiyan told The Hindu.
Sreeja Akula's confidence would have been sky high going into the women's singles final. She had beaten the likes of top seed Hina Hayata (first round), seventh seed Jieni Shao (quarters) and fourth-seeded Prithika Pavade in the semifinals.
However, Japanese second seed Honoka Hashimoto beat Sreeja 11-7, 11-3, 11-4, 9-11, 13-11 in the summit clash to clinch the crown.
Other results: Women's semifinals: Sreeja bt Prithika Pavade (Fra) 11-7, 11-4, 11-13, 6-11, 11-9; Mixed doubles final: Jules Rolland & Pavade (Fra) bt Akash Pal & Poymantee Baisya 12-10, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7.=
