WTT: Omotayo, Solanke defeat Chinese opponents to reach men’s doubles final

Nigeria’s men’s doubles team at the 2024 WTT Contender Lagos tournament, Olajide Omotayo and Azeez Solanke, are through to the event final.

The duo made history on Saturday at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall in Surulere when they defeated Chinese duo Luo Jiecheng and Fei Junhang, 3-2 in a thrilling five-set encounter.

They will now face the Indian duo of Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar in the final.

The Nigerian pair started strong, winning the first set 12-10. However, they were pegged back in the second set, as they lost 11-7. The Chinese team continued their momentum, winning the third set 11-4.

But Omotayo and Solanke refused to give up, fighting back to win the fourth set to force a deciding fifth set. In a nail-biting finish, the Nigerian duo emerged victorious, winning the fifth set 11-8 to secure their place in the final.

Other games

Defending champion Shin Yubin, ranked No. 8 in the world, was knocked out of the women’s singles event by India’s Mukherjee Sutirtha, ranked No. 125.

Sutirtha emerged victorious, 3-2 (9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 6-11) in a tough quarter-final match.

Akula Sreeja also defeated Ghorpade Yashaswini 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-8) in an all-Indian quarter-final tie and will face compatriot Sutirtha for a place in the final on Sunday.

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Sutirtha’s victory follows another major upset where Egypt’s Badawy Farida, ranked 331, defeated Batra Manika, ranked 28, 3-2, to reach the WTT tournament quarterfinal in her debut.