'Ayhika-Sutirtha's Asian C'ships bronze is no fluke': Coach Soumyadeep Roy

Coach Soumyadeep Roy is 'proud' and 'happy' for his wards Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee as they made history at the recently concluded Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.

After becoming the first Indian women's doubles pair to win a medal at the Asian Games in 2023, Ayhika and Sutirtha achieved another continental milestone by winning the bronze medal at the Asian Championships.

They were also part of the Indian team that won the country's first-ever medal in the women's team event.

"It is a matter of great pride, both as their coach and as an Indian, to see them make the country proud on the international stage. I am really happy. As a coach, we work for this kind of performance," Soumyadeep told The Bridge.

Despite their magnificent medal-winning feats, Ayhika and Sutirtha are yet to overcome the semifinal barrier in major events.

After the Asian Games last year, they lost again in the semifinals of the continental Championships.

Soumyadeep, however, is confident that the pair will win brighter medals soon.

"The way they have performed at the international level in the last year, in both singles and doubles, they have shown they are on course to achieve bigger feats," he noted.

'Ayhika shows how mature she has become'

Soumyadeep, an Arjuna award-winning player turned coach, emphasized that Ayhika and Sutirtha's remarkable display at the Asian Championships demonstrated that their success was no fluke.

"They have been consistent, which is why India won historic medals in two events at the Asian Championships," Soumyadeep added.

The Kolkata-based coach also ushered praise on Ayhika, the star of India's medal-winning performance in the women's team event. Ayhika’s unbeaten run against the mighty Korea - the second seed - in the quarterfinals confirmed India's historic medal in the tournament's 52-year history.

Ranked 92nd in the world, Ayhika defeated World No. 8 Yubin Shin in a thrilling five-game contest.

Although Manika Batra extended India’s lead to 2-0, Sreeja Akula’s straight-game loss allowed Korea to stage a comeback.

With Yubin besting Manika in a closely fought fourth match, Ayhika, the lowest-ranked player on the team, stepped up when it mattered the most. She absorbed the pressure and recovered from a first-game loss to defeat World No. 16 Jihee Jeon 7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 12-10 in a 40-minute battle.

Her subtle body smashes and effective use of anti-spin rubber slowed the game, baffling Jeon.

Ayhika sealed the match and the tie with a forehand stunner, propelling India to a historic medal.

"It is always tough," remarked Soumyadeep.

"Playing the deciding match and winning is completely a different ball game. The way Ayhika won the two matches in the team event against World No. 8 and 16 shows how mature she has become. The performance was not a fluke."

Ayhika's giant-slaying act is not new.

She stunned World No. 1 Sun Yingsha of China in February this year as the Indian women's team defeated reigning champions China at the World Championships in Korea.

As Ayhika played a pivotal role in India's remarkable campaign at the Asian Championships, Soumyadeep expressed disappointment over Ayhika not being selected as part of the main team for the Paris Olympics, where India's campaign ended in the quarterfinals.

"Ayhika was in the team as the fourth member. The selection was ad hoc, but based on her international performances over the last one year, the selectors should have given her the go-ahead. No doubt qualifying for the quarterfinals was a great achievement for India, but had Ayhika been there, the result could have been better. But the past is past. We are not dwelling on it," Soumyadeep said.

Ayhika, however, could not shine in the women's team semifinals, where she lost to Japan's Harimoto right after beating two top Korean paddlers in the quarterfinals.

When asked whether Ayhika lacks consistency, Soumyadeep refuted, “When you play against the top players, it is not possible to win every time. You win some, you lose some."

'Winning a medal in team event is no small feat'

In the women's doubles quarterfinals, Ayhika and Sutirtha dropped only one game against Kim Nayeong and Lee Eunhye of Korea to win their maiden medal at the Championships.

When asked what makes their partnership so lethal, Soumyadeep said, "Their combination is really strong. Ayhika can slow down the play, and Sutirtha grabs the opportunity to play aggressive strokes. This is their specialty. When their attack becomes consistent, Ayhika also becomes aggressive. The key is how they vary the pace during the match.”

Soumyadeep also said that the duo is now confident of beating any pair in the world.

"They are consistently defeating top pairings. After winning the Asian Games medal in 2023, we, as a team, believe they can beat anyone. Our aim going into the Asian Championships was a podium finish," said the coach.

Even though they fought valiantly throughout the tournament, Ayhika and Sutirtha could not overcome World No. 33 Miwa Harimoto and Miyuu Kihara of Japan in the semifinals, losing in straight games.

"It was unfortunate. Both players played a fast game and could not slow it down, which is usually their strength. That is why they lost," explained Soumyadeep.

"But we must remember that competing at the Asian Championships is as tough as the World Championships. When five of the top pairings in the world are from Asia, winning a medal in the team event and doubles is no small feat. It shows how much Indian table tennis has progressed," he emphasised.

Even though Ayhika and Sutirtha are yet to break the semifinal barrier in marquee events, Soumyadeep believes the positive takeaway is that they are consistently raising their level as a pair.

"They are beating top players regularly, and their level has improved," he said.

The duo added the Asian Championships medal to their growing collection after their Asian Games bronze in 2023, where they stunned Chinese world champions Chen Meng and Wang Yidi.

"Sports is unpredictable. It is not possible to win every time. They are winning important matches and helping India achieve significant milestones, and that is what matters," Soumyadeep stated.

As Ayhika and Sutirtha prepare for a busy year ahead, Soumyadeep is focused on fine-tuning their approach.

"We had a specific plan for the Olympic year, and now we have a different strategy in place for next year. With the support of Dhanuka Dhunseri Academy and OGQ, we can plan tournaments according to our needs," he signed off.