G Sathiyan and Akash Pal win doubles title; Sreeja loses singles final

Indian paddlers G Sathiyan and Akash Pal scripted a stirring triumph at the WTT Contender Lagos on Saturday, clinching the men’s doubles crown with a dominant 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-9) win over France’s Leo de Nodrest and Jules Rolland. More that just a win, it was also revenge of sorts.Both Sathiyan and Akash had suffered defeats to the same French duo in their respective singles campaigns. Akash fell to Nodrest in the quarterfinals, while Rolland halted Sathiyan’s run in the Round of 16.“This was redemption,” Sathiyan told TOI after the win. “We both lost to them in singles, so to beat them in the final was really satisfying.”What made the triumph sweeter was that this was their first outing as a doubles pair.“The surprise element worked in our favour,” Sathiyan explained. “Akash has always been good at doubles. I told him to stay calm and play every point with intent. Once we won the first game after being four points down, it really shifted the momentum our way.”The pair won in straight games but the match was far from one-sided. In the first game, they trailed significantly before launching a spirited comeback. In the third, with the score locked at 9-all, Akash grew tense, but Sathiyan’s experience and calming presence saw them through.“I told him to forget the scoreline. Just stick to the serve, stick to the strategy. And he delivered,” Sathiyan said.Shot in the arm for SathiyanFor Sathiyan, this title is another step forward in what has been a positive couple of weeks. After a poor stretch that saw his world ranking dip, the 32-year-old is beginning to find his rhythm again.At the recent WTT Smash in the USA, Sathiyan reached the Round of 32 after coming through qualifiers, even notching a win over India’s No.1 Manav Thakkar. In Lagos, apart from the doubles title, he had a decent mixed doubles run too.“It’s a much-needed confidence boost,” he said. “This is my third WTT doubles title and fifth overall, including two singles. The last time I won was with Harmeet (Desai) a few years back. Lifting a trophy again, especially after a gap, feels amazing. It’ll really help in singles too.”The victory gives Sathiyan and Akash a valuable boost in the doubles rankings, and potentially strengthens India’s medal hopes in team events at upcoming majors like the Asian Games.Hard-hitting PalPal may not be a household name just yet, but Sathiyan believes the 23-year-old is a rare gem.“After Sharath Kamal, I haven’t seen anyone in India hit the ball that hard,” he said. “He generates immense power from both wings and that puts a lot of pressure on opponents. He just needs to believe in himself more.”Sathiyan was often seen coaching Akash between points, urging him not to get carried away, to manage his intensity, and to back his own quality.“There were moments he got nervous or jittery. But I told him, ‘don’t hold back. If you miss, it’s okay. Just go for your shots’. And he did.”Akash’s work ethic hasn’t gone unnoticed either. “He’s always in the hall. Trains non-stop. I’ve seen him grow over the years and even lost to him a couple of times. He’s one of the most dangerous players in India right now.”The Lagos title could mark the beginning of a new long-term partnership.“Who knows,” Sathiyan said with a smile, “we might just team up more in the future.”Sreeja loses finalSreeja Akula’s dream run at the WTT Contender Lagos came to an end in the women’s singles final, where she lost 1-4 (7-11, 3-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-13) to Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto on Saturday.In the first three games, Sreeja was completely outplayed. Hashimoto, a world-class chop-blocker, frustrated the Indian with her defensive wall. Sreeja’s trademark attacking strokes were repeatedly neutralized, forcing errors and draining confidence.But the 26-year-old regrouped impressively in the fourth game. Showing maturity and patience, she slowed the pace, chose her moments to attack, and cleverly turned the tables, beating Hashimoto at her own game. The fifth was a thriller, with Sreeja holding a game point before narrowly going down 11-13. The title may have slipped away, but the bigger picture is inspiring. After a long injury-ridden year, including groin issues, a stress fracture, and shoulder trouble, Sreeja’s Lagos run signals a strong return.She began with a stunning upset over Japan’s Hina Hayata, a top-10 regular. Then came a gutsy 3-2 win over top seed Prithika Pavade of France. In the quarters, she blew past Portugal’s Jieni Shao, and ousted Italy’s Debora Vivarelli in the Round of 16.