Sharath Kamal-Manika Batra stun top seeds from Korea to clinch Olympic quota

India’s Achanta Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra stunned the top-seeded Korean pair of Sang-Su Lee and Jihee Jeon in the mixed doubles final of the Asian Olympic Qualification event in Doha on Saturday to clinch a quota spot for Tokyo 2020.

The Indian paddlers, ranked 18 in the world, trailed by two games at the start of the final but turned it around in sensational style to clinch the match 4-2.

With just one mixed doubles quota place available at this event and in all likelihood their final shot to reach the Olympic Games, Sharath and Batra produced a stirring come back to win 8-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 13-11, 11-8.

Game-by-game recap: 

First game: After a close start at 4-4, the Koreans went to 10-4 as points on serve deserted the Indians. They fought…