New Delhi: Oilmax-Stag Yoddhas lost a nervy encounter to Dabang Smashers TTC 13-14 on Tuesday in a match that could have been theirs. At the Thyagraj Stadium, New Delhi, the Yoddhas missed a clear opportunity to stamp their class on the inaugural CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis, the country’s first-ever professional table tennis league.
The loss was their third of the league and had no bearing in their standings as they continued in third position (provisionally) after completing five matches.
The tie was level at 12-all, with the last match between Yoddhas’ Polina Mikhailova and Kim Song turning out to be the decider, which the Yoddhas lost 1-2.
Trading a game each (4-11, 10-6), the match boiled down to the third wherein an anxious Polina lost 9-11. With the game tied at 9-9, the Russian did well to create an opening to smash, but ended up hitting long to bow out.
Yoddhas’ day began with Tomislav Pucar losing to Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 1-2 (2-11, 7-11, 11-6), but then it was all up to Delhi girl Manika Batra and Quadri Aruna to make amends. While Manika’s win, her first in the competition, was important, her combination with Quadri was another factor that helped Yoddhas steady themselves.
Down 1-2, Yoddhas stormed back when 22-year-old Manika shocked highly rated Kim Song I. The Indian, ranked 96 places below the North Korean at 115, showed she could punch above her weight when she hammered out a 2-1 (11-9, 11-9, 4-11) win to level the tie at 4-4.
Manika carried on with her form in the mixed doubles which followed her singles. Partnering Nigerian Quadri Aruna, the India-Nigerian pair staged a comeback win over Amalraj Arputharaj/ Aetyana Bilenko 2-1. Denied by the 'golden point' in the first, the Yoddhas pair did well to walk out a 10-11, 11-9, 11-9 winner.
The victory meant Manika and Quadri kept their 100 percent record as a pair and also put Yoddhas ahead for the first time at 5-4.
Croat Tomislav however could not continue with the momentum losing to Kou Lei 1-2 (7-11, 10-11, 11-9) which levelled out the tie and six-games apiece.
Yoddhas suffered back-to back disappointment when in the fifth match their dependable Doo Hoi Kem went down to a lower-ranked Tetyana Bilenko 1-2 (6-11, 8-11, 11-10). As a result the tie tilted in Dabang Smashers’ favour at 7-8.
Further frustration followed as Jubin Kumar went down to Portuguese Marcos Frietas 0-3 (6-11, 6-11, 2-11). Jubin's loss meant that Yoddhas slipped to a four game deficit at 7-11.
Faced with a do or die situation, the seventh encounter had Doo Hoi Kem help Yoddhas bounce back taming Madhurika Patkar 3-0 (11-9, 11-5, 11-7). Doo's win cut the tie score to 10-11.
The eighth match had Yoddhas' Quadri up his ante and win 2-1 against Marcos Freitas. The game was a thriller. Sharing two games with identical scores (11-8, 11-8), the third game had Quadri finish the ‘golden point’ with a smash on Frietas serve!
Yoddhas win meant that the last match was the tie decider as both teams were level 12-12.
RESULTS
Olimax-Stag Yoddhas lost to Dabang Smashers: 13-14 (Tomislav Pucar lost to Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 2-11, 7-11, 11-6; Manika Batra b Kim Song I 11-9, 11-9, 4-11; Quadri Aruna/ Manika Batra b Amalraj Arputharaj/ Tetyana Bilenko 10-11, 11-9, 11-9; Tomislav Pucar lost to Kou Lei 7-11, 10-11, 11-9; Doo Hoi Kem lost to Tetyana Bilenko 6-11, 8-11, 11-10; Jubin Kumar lost to Marcos Freitas 6-11, 6-11, 2-11; Doo Hoi Kem b Madhurika Patkar 11-9, 11-5, 11-7; Quadri Aruna b Marcos Freitas 11-8, 8-11, 11-10; Polina Mikhailova lost to Kim Song 4-11, 10-6, 9-11).
