India’s men and women teams advanced to the third round of the World Table Tennis Team Championships notching up contrasting wins in the second round in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
India’s men and women teams advanced to the third round of the World Table Tennis Team Championships notching up contrasting wins in the second round in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
Indian men defeated Turkey 3-0, while the women got the better of Puerto Rica 2-1.
Achanta Sharath Kamal was at his best when he took on Ibrahim Gunduz, winning the opening rubber 11-5, 11-5, 11-7, before Soumyajit Ghosh beat Gencay Menge 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 in the second singles.
National champion Anthony Amalraj, after losing the first game, brushed aside rustiness to beat Abdullah Yigenler 3-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7.
As for the women, except for Mouma Das, both K. Shamini and Madhurika Patkar took control of the match to put India on the road to recovery over Puerto Rica. They won 3-1.
Mouma, surprisingly, disappointed when she opened against Adriana Diaz losing 5-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-9.
However, Shamini beat Melaine Dias 12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 11-5 and Madhurika downed Daniely Rios 11-4, 11-9, 11-7 to keep India’s hopes alive. Shamini won the reverse singles after surviving a late charge from Adriana 11-7, 13-11, 8-11, 11-8 to see India through.
