'I always love to play higher ranked players':Paddler Ayhika Mukherjee

Chennai: In the sidelines of the Paris Olympics, Ayhika Mukherje watched as her compatriot Manika Batra took on Bernadette Szocs in the women's team match and overcame her. Being chosen as the backup player to the Indian women's table tennis team, she too must have fancied her chances against the Romanian paddler, if given a chance.

She did not have to wait long for the opportunity, as she faced the world no.13 in her first match at the 2024 Ultimate Table Tennis, and she took it with both hands.

Representing the Puneri Paltans, Ayhika made light work of the Romanian paddler, with a 3-0 win, displaying a high degree of skill and tenacity in her game. Szocs, the highest ranked player at the UTT, looked clueless against Ayhika.

Ayhika, known as the 'giant slayer', a name she made for herself for standing up tall against higher ranked players, attributed her victory to her desire of playing in such games.

"She (Bernadette Szocs) is the highest ranked player here in this season and I was really excited to play her. I was really happy because I always love to play higher ranked players. I didn't think about winning and losing. I was just thinking about giving my hundred percent and playing my best game that I could play and yeah, it turned out good for me," she said, in an interaction with media after the game.

This was Ayhika's first competitive game in quite a while, as she had to remain in the sidelines during the Olympics, but she showed no signs of rustiness against Szocs, who came into the tournament with sufficient high-level match exposure.

Speaking on that, she said, "It (back playing competitively)was really important for me. I was thinking about this time for a long time and I was preparing myself for this time only. So it was really good."

Like other Indian women paddlers, she too uses different rubbers on her racket, more specifically anti-spin rubber on her backhand and short pimple on her forehand, and she reckoned the Romanian found that difficult to deal with.

"I think Szocs was having some problem playing me. But of course when we meet next time, she will come back stronger and she will try to understand my rubber. And yes, I will also prepare best and I will also try something new," she said.

Ayhika will be in action for the Puneri Paltans on 26th August, when they take on the Bengaluru Smashers.