Indian women's team created history in Asian Table Tennis Championships

On Wednesday, at the Asian Table Tennis Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan, the Indian women's team made history by taking home the bronze. Since this competition initially begun by the Asian Table Tennis Association in 1972, this is India's first medal in the women's team category.

China defeated Hong Kong 3-0 in the second semi-final match, while India lost 1-3 to Japan in the semi-finals. Bronze medals have been given to both of the eliminated semifinalist teams.

In the semi-final, Ayhika Mukherjee lost the women's singles to Miwa Harimoto of Japan 2-3 (8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 13-11, 7-11), but Manika Batra brought the issue to level with a 3-0 win over Satsuki Odo 11-6, 11-5, 11-8. But Japan's Mima Ito defeated India's Sutirtha Mukherjee in the first singles 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 15-13), while Harimoto outplayed India's Manika Batra 3-1 (11-3, 6-11, 11-2, 11-3) to seal the win for Japan. India sealed the medal by defeating South Korea in a big tussle 3-2 in the last eight on Tuesday.