Indian paddler Sreeja Akula ended her women’s singles campaign at the WTT Contender Lagos as runner-up after losing 1-4 to Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto in the summit clash on Saturday.
In the 48-minute final, Hashimoto put considerable distance between herself and Sreeja, the defending champion, after winning the first three games 11-7, 11-3, 11-4.
However, the Indian opened her account and clinched the fourth game 11-9 to remain in the contest. The fifth game saw Sreeja start well but the Japanese player stayed close to her opponent. Sreeja led at 10-9 but Hashimoto held on to equalise and eventually seal the game 13-11, and consequently the match.
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The 26-year-old Indian had beaten France’s Prithika Pavade 11-7, 11-4, 11-13, 6-11, 11-9 in a semifinal clash which lasted 39 minutes.
Earlier in the day, Indian duo of Gnansekaran Sathiyan and Akash Pal beat France’s Leo de Nodrest and Jules Rolland in the final to win the men’s doubles title.
The pair secured the title in under 22 minutes, beating its opponents 11-9, 11-4, 11-9.