Manika Batra made a spectacular return to form by downing the World No. 20 Lee Ho Chinh of Hong Kong 2-1 to lead Dabang Smashers to a 15-6 win in aggregate over Empowerji Challengers in the Ultimate Table Tennis here on Tuesday.
With the win Smashers tallied 63 points and became the first team to qualify to the semifinals.
Continuing her sensational run in the tournament so far the current World No. 80, Manika, gave ample display of her talent to prevail over Lee. Manika lost the first game 7-11 but recovered well in the second and won it 11-9.
Her best came in the final game where she recovered from being down 7-10 to turn the tables on her higher-ranked opponent (11-10).
Young Manav Thakkar got the better of World No. 27 Yoshida Masaki of Japan 2-1 to help Challengers level the scores 3-3 after two matches.
G. Sathiyan anchored Smashers to two more wins before Yoshoida Masaki blanked Simon Gauzy of France 3-0 and establish an 8-4 lead for Smashers.
The results: Dabang Smashers TTC bt Empowerji Challengers 15-6 (Manika Batra bt Lee Ho Ching 7-11, 11-9, 11-10; Yoshida Masaki lost to Manav Thakkar 10-11, 11-5, 9-11; G Sathiyan & Sakura Mori bt Arjun Ghosh & Lee Ho Ching 11-4, 10-11, 10-11, Yoshida Masaki bt Simon Gauzy 11-8, 11-7, 11-10; Sakura Mori bt Georgina Pota 11-10, 11-9, 7-11, G. Sathiyan bt Manav Thakkar 8-11, 11-6, 11-5; Adriana Diaz bt Divya Deshpande 11-6, 11-4, 11-10.
Points (after five rounds): Smashers 63; Empowerji Challengers 42.