SINGAPORE – After watching their women’s team lose 3-2 to China at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in February, Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) general secretary Kamlesh Mehta called it “the greatest day for Indian table tennis.”

The seemingly hyperbolic statement was understandable as they had won two of the singles matches against the mighty Chinese. Ayhika Mukherjee, then ranked 155th, stunned world No. 1 Sun Yingsha 3-1, Sreeja Akula, ranked 49th, swept aside world No. 2 Wang Yidi 3-0.