HOUSTON: India's participation in the World Table Tennis Championships Finals 2021 in Houston, Texas, came to an end on Saturday when the women's and mixed doubles teams were eliminated in the quarter-finals.

In mixed doubles, Tokyo Olympians Manika Batra and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran lost 3-1 (5-11, 2-11, 11-7, 9-11) to Japan's Hina Hayata and Tomokazu Harimoto, the world No. 20 team in the quarter-finals.

The Indian duo advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating China's Wang Manyu, the United States' Kanak Jha, and the Puerto Rican team of Adriana Diaz and Brian Afanador.

Manika Batra and her women's doubles partner Archana Kamath also exited their event after a 3-0 (1-11, 6-11, 8-11) loss in the final eight to Sarah de Nuette and Xia Lian Ni of Luxembourg.

In the earlier rounds, Manika Batra and Archana Kamath defeated Belgium's Margo Degraef and Nathalie Marchetti and Hungary's Dora Madarasz and Georgina Pota to advance to the quarterfinals.

With losing semi-finalists earning bronze medals at the World Table Tennis Championships Finals 2021, both Indian teams in action on Saturday were one win away from a podium finish at the US meet.

G Sathiyan was the most successful Indian singles player at the event, reaching the men's round of 32.

India has only two medals from the world table tennis championships, both from the inaugural event in 1926.

“End of a dream run here in Houston which was certainly one of my best ever world championships so far,” Sathiyan Gnaneshkaran said on his Twitter page.

“Though it was disheartening not to make it after coming agonisingly close to a historic medal and also for missing out closely to break into top-16 in singles for the first time, nevertheless was certainly a terrific tournament and lots to learn from,” Sathiyan added.

End of dream run here in Houston???????? which was certainly one of my best ever world ???? championships so far ????

Tough loss today in Mixed Doubles quarters along with @manikabatra_TT after we put up a great fight against the formidable Japanese pair . pic.twitter.com/LD1YPdxBaw

— Sathiyan Gnanasekaran OLY (@sathiyantt) November 28, 2021

Edited - SportsAction / Inputs - Agency