Macau: It was so near and yet so far for Indian men paddlers who bowed out of the medal reckoning after losing to Chinese Taipei 2-3 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Table Tennis Championships early today. Later in the evening they lost 1-3 to DPR Korea in 5-8 positional matches.
Earlier, the women paddlers too bit the dust, fist losing to China 0-3 in the quarterfinals and subsequently to both Taiepir and South Korea in a similar fashion to finish eighth in the championships. The Indians, however, shared the winners’ position with Chinese Taipei in the first division and were presented with awards.
But while no one gave a chance to the women team against the rampaging China, it was within the realm of possibility of men who came so close to beating Taipei in the last eight. And the unexpected hero on the day was none other than national champion A. Amalraj who won both his matches against Chen Chien and Huang Sheng Sheng. But Achanta Sharath Kamal, who played to matches and Subhajit Saha who met Wu Chih Chi lost their matches to bow out of medal rounds.
Understandably upset over the outcome, the Indian paddlers went down 1-3 to North Korea and will now play for the 7-8 position game.
Men: Quarterfinals: Chinese Taipei bt India 3-2 (Huang Sheng Sheng bt Achantha Sharath Kamal 11-5, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7; Chen Chien An lost to Anthony Amalraj 11-3, 7-11, 9-11, 8-11;
Wu Chih chi bt Subjajit Saha 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7; Huang Sheng Sheng lost to Anthony Amal raj 11-4, 11-4, 7-11, 6-11, 8-11; Chen Chien An bt Achantha Sharath Kamal 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5.
5-8 Position: North Korea bt India 3-1 (Jang Song Man bt Anthony Amalraj 11-3, 11-4, 11-9; Hyok Bong Kim lost to Achanta Sharath Kamal 14-12, 6-11, 5-11, 8-11; Kim Song Nam bt Soumyajit Ghosh 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5; Jang Song Man bt Achanta Sharath Kamal 4-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5.
Women: Quarterfinals: China bt India 3-0 (Ding Ning bt Mouma Das 11-7, 11-8, 11-3, Guo Yan bt Poulomi Ghatak 13-11, 11-5, 11-3, Guo Yue bt Ankita Das 11-2, 11-7, 11-8
5-8 Positions: Chinese Taipei bt India 3-0 (Chen Szu Yu bt Mouma Das 6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7; Cheng I ching bt Poulomi Ghatak 13-11, 11-4, 11-2’ Liu Hsing Yin bt Ankita Das 7-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8.
7-8 Position: North Korea bt India 3-0 (Kim Jong bt Poulami Ghatak 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7; Ri Myong sun bt Mouma Das 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4; Kim Hye Song bt Shamini Kumaresan 11-1, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7.
