Indian mixed doubles pairing of Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade pulled off a massive upset in the 2024 Saudi Smash by defeating the 5th-seed Spanish duo Alvaro Robles and Maria Xiao in the round of 16 at King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah.
Desai and Ghorpade pull off a great win at Saudi Smash 2024
On May 6, 2024, during the round of 16, Desai and Ghorpade faced off against the 5th-seeded Spanish pair, Alvaro Robles and Maria Xiao. The match was a nail-biting encounter, with both teams showcasing their skills and determination.
The Indian pair started strong, winning the first set 11-5. However, the Spanish duo bounced back in the next two sets, winning them 11-5 and 11-3 respectively. Despite the setback, Desai and Ghorpade did not lose hope. They regrouped and came back stronger, winning the next two sets 11-7, 11-7. This remarkable comeback led them to a 3-2 victory over the Spanish pair.
This victory is significant as it marks the entry of Desai and Ghorpade into the quarterfinals of the Saudi Smash 2024. It also highlights their potential and capability to compete against top-seeded players on an international platform.
News Flash: Harmeet Desai & Yashaswini Ghorpade stun WR 6 Spanish pair 3-2 to storm into QF of Mixed Doubles at prestigious Saudi Smash.
Earlier they had defeated WR 19 Chilean pair in opening round. #TableTennis #SaudiSmash pic.twitter.com/vHq6V3HTHe
— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) May 6, 2024
The newly formed duo will now await the result of the round of 16 clash between China’s top-seeded Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha against Ali Alkhadrawi of Saudi Arabia and Hana Goda from Egypt. The winner of that match will face the Indian duo in the quarter-finals of the Saudi Smash.
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