-Khel Now
The Indian men’s Table Tennis team defeated Singapore (3-0) and advanced to the semi-finals of the Asian Table Tennis Championships 2023. Achanta Sharath Kamal, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, and Harmeet Desai notched up victories in the opening three matches to secure a comfortable win in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, the women’s team suffered a defeat against Japan (0-3) in the quarter-finals and are out of the competition.
India’s former top ranked men’s singles player Achanta Sarath Kamal started the proceedings on a bright note by winning the opening set of match 1 (11-1). Singaporean Quek Izaac bounced back strongly to take a closely contested second set. The match was heading for a close finish with either players winning consecutive sets – scoreline tied (2-2)
Going into the final set, Sharath was trailing (6-9) with Izaac, WR-63, having the advantage of closing the match in his favour. But, the experienced Indian won four straight points and held a match point as well. Izaac did not hold back either and now it was his turn to win back-to-back points and lead by a point (11-10). In the end, Sarath Kamal saved two match points to provide India a positive start in the tournament.
Unlike Sarath, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Harmeet Desai enjoyed comfortable victories over Pang Yew En and Chew Zhe Yu in straight sets respectively. India will next be up against either of Chinese Taipei or Iran for a place in the final. The winner of the team events alongside mixed doubles will secure direct entry for Paris Olympics 2024.
India’s performance in the quarter-finals of Asian Table Tennis Championships 2023
Sharath Kamal beat Quek Izaac (11-1, 10-12, 11-8, 11-13, 14-12)
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran beat Pang Yew En (11-6, 11-8, 12-10)
Harmeet Desai beat Chew Zhe Yu (11-9, 11-4, 11-6)
Featured Image: Business Standard