PyeongChang: The Indian men’s team advanced to the semi-finals of the Asian Table Tennis Championship. With this, the Indian team has ensured that they will win at least the bronze medal.
The Asian Table Tennis Championship is being held in PyeongChang, South Korea. India and Singapore clashed in the men’s team quarter-finals. In this, the Indian team won 3-0 and advanced to the semi-finals.
In the first match, India’s Sharad Kamal beat Singapore’s Isaac Quek 11-1, 10-12, 11-8, 11-13, 14-12. India’s Sathyan defeated Y Goen Phang in straight sets 11-6, 11-8, 12-10 in the next match. This gave the Indian team a 2-0 lead. India’s world number 61 Harmeet Desai defeated Clarence C 11-9, 11-4, 11-6 in the 3rd match.
By advancing to the semi-finals, the Indian men’s team ensured at least a bronze medal. The Indian men’s team could face either Chinese Taipei or Iran in the semifinals.
Women’s Team Disappointment: In the women’s category, the Indian team, ranked 5th in the tournament, lost 0-3 to Japan. Japan’s Mima, ranked 8th in the world, beat India’s Aihika Mukherjee in straight sets 1-7, 15-13, 11-8.
In the 2nd match, India’s star player and world number 36 Manika Patra lost to Japan’s 7th seed Hina Hayata 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 3-11.
India’s Sudhirtha Mukherjee lost 11-7, 4-11, 6-11, 5-11 to 14th seed Miu Hirano in the last match. With this defeat, the Indian women’s team has lost its medal chances and has been forced to fight for the 5th to 8th places.
