The Hindu : Sport / Table Tennis : Shamini steps up for India

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Friday, Jun 01, 2007
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Sport - Table Tennis

Shamini steps up for India

K. Keerthivasan

JAIPUR: K. Shamini put India's campaign back on track, turning in a wonderful performance that enabled India overcome Canada 3-2 in the women's first round match of the second stage in the 17th Commonwealth table tennis championships at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium here on Thursday.

Having lost the first two matches with Mouma Das and Poulomi Ghatak biting the dust, it was Shamini who kept the India flag flying with a near-flawless performance against Qi Tang. The 19-year-old won 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4.

"Since I have defeated her in a junior Pro-Tour two years ago, I went into the match with confidence," said Shamini.

Morale boost

Shamini's victory gave Poulomi enough confidence and energy to take on Canada's top player Mo Zhang in the fourth rubber. Once she found her rhythm there was no stopping Poulomi.

Leading 8-7 in the fourth game, Poulomi took a time out and came back charged up to close out the game quickly.

Finally, it was Poulomi's aggression that helped her in the crucial fifth game.

In the fifth and deciding rubber, Mouma Das didn't panic against Sara Yuen. The first game gave a fair idea of the National champion's attacking mindset. Mouma went on to win with considerable ease.

The Indian women have been given a tough draw with Nigeria and top-seed Singapore in it.

In the men's campaign so far, it has been Subhajit Saha's superb display that has won the appreciation.

Sharath was all praise for Subhajit's performance. Against New Zealand in the first round of the second stage, Subhajit did his job to perfection as India rode past the Kiwis 3-0. There was a view in some quarters of using Anirban Nandi more often as he is in good form.

However, coach Kamlesh Mehta has nipped the talk in the bud. Nandi and Pathik Mehta played their first match against Bangladesh in the first stage. A much tougher opponent in Australia awaits the host on Friday.

Groupings (Second Stage): Men: Group A: Singapore, Nigeria, Scotland, England; Group B: India, Australia, Canada, New Zealand.

Women: Group A: Singapore, India, Canada, Nigeria; Group B: Aus, Malaysia, New Zealand, Eng.

The results (second stage): Men: India bt New Zealand 3-0 (Subhajit Saha bt Zhilong Brad Chen 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-4; Sharath Kamal bt Simon Wallace 11-4, 11-8, 11-3; Soumyadeep Roy bt Peter Craven 11-6, 12-14, 16-14, 11-5); Singapore bt England 3-0; Nigeria bt Scotland 3-0; Australia bt Canada 3-1; Wales bt Northern Ireland 3-1.

Women: India bt Canada 3-2 (Mouma Das lost to Mo Zhang 9-11, 7-11, 8-11; Poulomi Ghatak lost to Sara Yuen 10-12, 11-7, 7-11, 8-11; K. Shamini bt Qi Tang 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4; Poulomi Ghatak bt Mo Zhang 4-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7; Mouma Das bt Sara Yuen 11-4, 11-6, 11-8); Australia bt England 3-1; Malaysia bt New Zealand 3-1.EOM

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