CHENNAI: Just four days after winning the WTT Contender mixed doubles crown along with Manika Batra in Budapest, G Sathiyan triumphed yet again winning the ITTF Czech Open on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old defeated Ukraine’s Yevhen Pryshchepa 4-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-6, 14-12) to win his third singles ITTF title.
While Sathiyan, ranked 39 in the world, was comfortable in the first three games. However, Sathiyan faced a stern test in the fourth and was trailing Yevhen 0-5.
The scoreline soon read 9-5 in favour of Yevhen. But Sathiyan pulled things back and went on to win that game 14-12.
“I am pretty pleased with this win and it’s a big confidence booster. While the first three games were easy, he was mixing things up well in the fourth. I didn’t want to let go of the advantage I had and gave it my all,” Sathiyan told TOI moments after the match.
Sathiyan is happy to have won an ITTF title after a gap of almost 4 years. “My last ITTF title came in Spain back in November 2017. It’s good to have a title under your belt and I played well throughout the competition,” Sathiyan added.
Earlier in the day, the top seed made the summit clash after his semifinal opponent --- Truls Moregardh from Sweden --- retired hurt. Sathiyan had won the first two games 11-4, 11-8 and was leading the third 8-2 when Truls retired citing a back injury.
Sathiyan will next be in action at the Polish league where he represents Sokolow SA Jaroslaw. “I head to Poland for training and play a few matches for my club in the league before returning to India,” he said.
Sathiyan-Manika rise to 20 in world rankings: The mixed doubles pair of Sathiyan and Manika Batra have risen to No. 20 as per the latest ITTF world rankings.
