Sharath-Manika win mixed doubles final in National TT Championship

Asian Games bronze medallists A Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra defeated top-seeded pair of Manav Thakkar and Archana Girish Kamath 3-1 to win the mixed doubles gold in the 80th National Table Tennis Championship here Tuesday.

Sharath, who is playing in three events after a long time, won the second title to add to the team events crown that Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) won two days ago at the Nehru Stadium.

The last time Sharath competed and won all four titles was way back during the Siliguri Nationals in 2008. Incidentally, it was Harmeet Desai and Pooja Sahasrabudhe who had won the mixed doubles for PSPB at Hyderabad three years ago.

Ever since mixed doubles has become a part of the Olympics, Sharath has ventured into it and along with Manika tasted success when the pair won the first Asian Games bronze medal at Jakarta last year.

Having set the tone on Sunday in the team final, Sharath shepherded Manika in the final against Manav and Archana.

Establishing an early lead,