It was a profitable day for the Indian paddlers at the World team table tennis championships here on Tuesday.
The Indian men, after outplaying Australia 3-0 in the second round, managed to beat back Iran’s challenge 3-2 to register its third win in Group F of the Second Division.
The women lost a match against Portugal before blanking Turkey 3-0 in Group G.
In the clash against Australia, Sharath Kamal, India’s highest-ranked player at 39, defeated David Powell 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8 in the opening singles. Reigning national champion Sanil Shetty was stretched by Hu Heming before prevailing 9-11, 11-9, 13-11, 8-11, 11-3. Later, Harmeet Desai wrapped it up by getting past Kane Townsend 11-6, 11-7, 11-7.
In women’s category, Manika Batra gave India the early advantage with a 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 win over Rita Fins only to see Ana Neves shock the experienced K. Shamini 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6. After Madhurika Patkar had won against Leila Oliviera, Shamini staged a comeback in the decider against Rita to post a 9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 victory.
The results: Men: India bt Iran 3-2 (Sharath Kamal bt Nima Alamian 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6; Harmeet Desai lost to Noshad Alamiyan 11-8, 12-10, 11-9; Soumyajit Ghosh lost to Afshin Noroozi 11-9, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8; Sharath Kamal bt Noshad Alamiyan 5-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7; Harmeet Desai bt Nima Alamian 8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-8).
India bt Australia 3-0 (Sharath Kamal bt David Powell 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8; Sanil Shetty bt Hu Heming 9-11, 11-9, 13-11, 8-11, 11-3; Harmeet Desai bt Kane Townsend 11-6, 11-7, 11-7).
Women: India bt Turkey 3-0 (K. Shamini bt Ipek Karahan 11-4, 12-10, 11-4; Manika Batra bt Gokce Nur Gungor 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8; Madhurika Patkar bt Sanem Sahin 11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6).
India bt Portugal 3-1 (Manika Batra bt Rita Fins 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7; K. Shamini lost to Ana Neves 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6; Madhurika Patkar bt Leila Oliviera 11-7, 11-5, 11-8; Shamini bt Rita 9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-6).
