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Diya Chitale and Manush Shah Assure India Asian Games Medal
Diya Chitale and Manush Shah play table tennis together for India.
They won a medal at the Asian Games after beating a highly ranked pair from Hong Kong.
Before the event, they had not been playing at their best.
Diya was also grieving the death of her coach and mentor, Peter Engel.
She learned about his death after arriving in Japan.
Her father said the medal was a fitting tribute to Engel.
Manush and Diya work well because Manush is left-handed and Diya is right-handed.
Their success has increased India’s hopes for an important Olympic medal in the future.
Diya Chitale and Manush Shah secured India’s first table-tennis medal at the Asian Games by upsetting Hong Kong’s fourth-ranked mixed-doubles pair.
The duo entered the competition as the world’s No. 8 pair despite a sharp decline in form since June.
Diya’s coach and mentor Peter Engel died shortly before the event, making the medal a tribute to him.
Manush and Diya won two WTT titles in the first half of the year but exited early at the Sweden and United States Smashes.
Their left-right combination has helped them succeed, with Manush providing power and Diya creating opportunities for winners.
- Who
- Indian table-tennis players Diya Chitale and Manush Shah.
- What
- They assured India a medal in Asian Games mixed doubles by defeating Hong Kong’s fourth-ranked pair.
- Where
- At the Asian Games in Japan.
- When
- The result was reported on September 24, after their medal was confirmed on Friday.
- Why
- They were seeking success for India, while the medal also became a tribute to Diya’s late coach and mentor, Peter Engel.
Key facts
- Sport
- Table tennis
- Event
- Asian Games mixed doubles
- Pair ranking
- World No. 8 before the event
- Key victory
- Upset of Hong Kong’s fourth-ranked duo
- Recent titles
- Two WTT titles in the first half of the year
- Recent setbacks
- Early exits at the Sweden Smash and United States Smash
- Coaching tribute
- The medal honored Diya’s late coach Peter Engel
Quotes
Parag Chitale
Diya Chitale’s father and a teacher
“We could not tell her about Peter’s death, it happened 10 days ago. She only found out from the team after reaching Japan. She was very close to him. I am very proud that she and Manush got this medal assured, considering the loss of Peter and their recent form”
theprint.in
“He did play cricket initially but after the internal injury, he got into table tennis seeing me play. As parents, we are massively proud that Manush and Diya have won a medal for the country”
theprint.in
Sources
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