New Delhi: There is an all-round optimism sweeping through the Indian camp on the eve of the 19th edition of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, beginning here at the Thyagraj Stadium tomorrow. There are many reasons for such a mood and, to a great extent, they home team may prove their thinking right.
In fact, the Indian paddlers have already begun their medal counts, thanks to both a favourable Stage 1 draw in the men and women’s sections as well as the absence of some stars—defending champion Gao Ning and Yang Zi—from the top-seeded Singapore. Even Liam Pitchford and Paul Drinkhall have opted out of the England squad.
All this may make the Indians more than comfortable at this stage, but the real reason for the paddlers’ buoyancy is that the teams have prepared well for the home event, men training in Sweden and women in China. They know full well that a satisfying performance here will put them in the right frame of mind for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Even otherwise, the selectors have thoughtfully gone for a mixture of youth and experience with Achanta Sharath Kamal, at world No. 70, playing the lead role with the two other main casts in Anthony Amalraj (world No. 149), Soumyajit Ghosh (187). The fourth and fifth members of the squad, Harmeet Desai (275) and Sanil Shetty (332), will be playing the supporting act.
Sharath did see the good chance for the hosts but was wary of predicting the colour of the medal. “I know Singapore is missing their top players. But it is still a 50-50 chance,” he said.
With the format offering a great opportunity, all top teams are slated to play three matches each in group stages before going into the quarterfinals which will also be played on a league basis. Bunched with South Africa and Australia in Group C, the Indians look like walking into the quarterfinals. Thereafter the teams will be divided into two groups of four teams each with two from each group making the semifinal grade.
Advantage girls
As for the girls, they have an added advantage. Drawn in group C with Canada and Sri Lanka, the foursome of K. Shamini, Mouma Das, Madhurika Patkar and Neha Aggarwal will not have to do any tightrope walk. With Canada’s main player, Zhang Mo—she is world No. 164—unable to arrive here before Monday because of some visa problems, the Indian girls should have an easy time.
Departing from its usual stance, the Commonwealth TT Federation has allowed Canada to play with two girls in the team event—the minimum requirement being three players—on compassionate ground. India has been understandably ‘sporting’ enough not to object the decision. In Mo’s absence Canada will expect Sara Yuen (ranked 493) and Shirley (508) to shoulder the extra burden against the higher ranked Indians like Mouma (231) and Shamini (273), Madhurika Patkar (317) and Neha Aggarwal (430).
Unlike the men’s team, which is relying on youth, the Indian women’s squad has brought back veteran Mouma to lend support to Shamini in the absence of top-ranked Indian Poulami Ghatak, who is nursing an injury. Though Madhurika has some international experience, Neha is making her maiden appearance in any Commonwealth event. The Delhi player has had an excellent form last season and led her state to the team title in the senior nationals. The selectors expect her to carry her form through in these championships.
