India enjoyed a profitable opening day as Shamini Kumaresan qualified for the main draw of the women’s singles event at the World Table Tennis Championships here on Monday.
Shamini qualified by topping her group which included Gillian Edwards of Scotland and Nino Neridee of Venezuela.
She defeated Gillian Edwards 11—7, 9—11, 11—3, 13—11, 8—11, 11—8. She then scored a 11—7, 11—3, 8—11, 11—3, 7—11, 11—8 win over Nino Neridee.
The other two women players Mouma Das and Manika Batra are already in the main draw based on the world ranking.
In the men’s singles qualification groups. G. Sathiyan and Sanil Shetty topped their respective group to enter the next stage. Sathiyan defeated A. Abdulla (UAE) in straight sets 11—5, 11—6, 11—4, 11—2 and then beat A. Ali (KSA) 11—8, 11—5, 11—2, 9—11, 11—2.
Sanil Shetty beat Saleh Mohamed (Brn) 11—5, 11—7, 10—12, 11—13, 11—1, 11—5. Sanil then beat Villa Ricardo (Mex) 11—7, 11—2, 11—4, 11—7 to qualify for next stage.
These two have to further win the Qualification Rounds to get a place in the main draw of 128 Players. Sharath Kamal is already seeded in the main draw and Soumyajit Ghosh will also get a place based on his ranking.
In doubles, the Indian pair of Sharath Kamal and G. Sathiyan beat Alyassi Alyas and Saleh Mohammed (Brn) 11—4, 11—3, 11—8 in the first round. The women’s double pair of Mouma Das and Shamini Kumaresan crushed M. Mueena and Nimal Fathimath of Maldives 11—4, 11—3, 11—3 in the first round.
