Latest news with #WTTContenderLagos
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
G Sathiyan and Akash Pal win doubles title; Sreeja loses singles final
Indian paddlers G Sathiyan and Akash Pal scripted a stirring triumph at the WTT Contender Lagos on Saturday, clinching the men's doubles crown with a dominant 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-9) win over France's Leo de Nodrest and Jules Rolland. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now More that just a win, it was also revenge of sorts. Both Sathiyan and Akash had suffered defeats to the same French duo in their respective singles campaigns. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Akash fell to Nodrest in the quarterfinals, while Rolland halted Sathiyan's run in the Round of 16. 'We both lost to them in singles, so to beat them in the final was really satisfying,' Sathiyan told TOI after the win. What made the triumph sweeter was that this was their first outing as a doubles pair. 'The surprise element worked in our favour,' Sathiyan explained. 'Akash has always been good at doubles. I told him to stay calm and play every point with intent. Once we won the first game after being four points down, it really shifted the momentum our way.' Pal may not be a household name just yet, but Sathiyan believes the 23-year-old is a rare gem. 'After Sharath Kamal, I haven't seen anyone in India hit the ball that hard,' he said. He generates immense power from both wings and that puts a lot of pressure on opponents.' Sreeja Akula's dream run at the WTT Contender Lagos came to an end in the women's singles final, where she lost 1-4 (7-11, 3-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-13) to Japan's Honoka Hashimoto on Saturday. The fifth was a thrill -er, with Sreeja holding a game point before narrowly going down 11-13.
The Hindu
26-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
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.=
The Hindu
26-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Sreeja Akula loses women's singles final at WTT Contender Lagos; Sathiyan-Akash pair secures men's doubles title
Indian paddler Sreeja Akula ended her women's singles campaign at the WTT Contender Lagos as runner-up after losing 1-4 to Japan's Honoka Hashimoto in the summit clash on Saturday. In the 48-minute final, Hashimoto put considerable distance between herself and Sreeja after winning the first three games 11-7, 11-3, 11-4. However, the Indian opened her account and clinched the fourth game 11-9 to remain in the contest. The fifth game saw Sreeja start well but the Japanese player stayed close to her opponent. Sreeja led at 10-9 but Hashimoto held on to equalise and eventually seal the game 13-11, and consequently the match. The 26-year-old Indian had beaten France's Prithika Pavade 11-7, 11-4, 11-13, 6-11, 11-9 in a semifinal clash which lasted 39 minutes. Earlier in the day, Indian duo of Gnansekaran Sathiyan and Akash Pal beat France's Leo de Nodrest and Jules Rolland in the final to win the men's doubles title. The pair secured the title in under 22 minutes, beating its opponents 11-9, 11-4, 11-9.
Indian Express
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Sreeja Akula – ‘I didn't focus on rankings, was well prepared' after beating Paris Olympics bronze medallist Hina Hayata
Hyderabad paddler Sreeja Akula caused yet another upset on the international circuit, in pursuit of defending her Lagos WTT Contender title, when she beat Paris bronze medallist Hina Hayata 11-7, 11-8, 11-3 in the very first round she played. The Japanese world no 11 had arrived at WTT Contender Lagos 2025, with title ambitions but those were interrupted by Sreeja, seeded ninth, in straight games. The Indian 26-year-old is ranked No 57, and there was a ranking gap of 46 positions in the ITTF World markers with Hayata the red-hot favourite heading into Thursday's showdown, but was in for a difficult day at the office, according to the WTT website. 'Known for her shrewd acumen and incredible defensive prowess, it was always going to be a demanding challenge to break down Akula. And Hayata would fall short on this occasion as Akula remained steadfast to close out a stunning 3-0 victory over the World No.11,' WTT wrote. In the other half of the draw, No.2 seed Honoka Hashimoto was off to an easier start dropping just six points across three games in her clash with qualifier Kabirat Ayoola (11-1, 11-3, 11-2). But Sreeja's donination of Hayata was from the outset as she sealed a spot in the round of 16, hoping to defend her crown. Sreeja had become the first Indian to win a WTT Contender in a fine showing in June of 2024, and announced herself as a winner to be taken note of at Nigeria. She returned to the event, and immediately caused a stir. The electric upset lit up the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall inside the Teslim Balogun Stadium, according to Premium Times Nigeria. 'I was well-prepared for the match, even though it was my first time playing against her,' Akula told Premium Times, post-match. 'She's the top-ranked player, but I didn't focus on rankings. I just concentrated on my game, and I'm happy with how I played.' The paper further wrote: 'It wasn't just the win; it was the manner Akula showed remarkable composure and shot selection, barely allowing Hayata a foothold. It was a performance laced with both tactical maturity and emotional calm. For Akula, Lagos has fast become more than a tournament stop; it's now a proven fortress. 'Being the defending champion gives me a lot of confidence. I won both the women's singles and doubles titles last year. Lagos has been a good hunting ground for me, and I'm really happy to be back. I just want to play my best and enjoy the tournament,' she added to PT Nigeria.
