Just when it mattered, Sharath Kamal shifted gears to produce some vintage stuff in singles and mixed doubles. Claiming the ‘golden point’ that decided both these rubbers, Sharath contributed four points in Chennai Lions’ thrilling 8-7 triumph over Goa Challengers in the Ultimate Table Tennis league here on Wednesday.
The battle between these teams, expected to go deep into the 18-day competition, was decided in the final game. Madhurika lost the first two games of the final singles to Archana Kamath and that left the score locked at 7-7. The Thane girl eventually clinched the final game and proved the tie-winner for her team.
“We, at Chennai Lions, believe that Goa is one of the most complete teams in the fray. So it feels great to take eight points off them,” said Sharath after leading the way for Chennai.
Going by rankings
The strategy of the teams to field their overseas players in search of early leads did not quite work this day. It pretty much went as per the world rankings in the first two singles and the score was 3-3.
World No. 8 Cheng I-Ching put Goa ahead by beating the 26th-ranked Petrissa Solja 2-1, a score that Chennai’s Taigo Apolonia, ranked 52, needed to stop Alvaro Robles. Both these matches produced some thrills, but the higher-ranked player eventually prevailed.
The mixed doubles saw Amalraj and I-Ching take the lead, but Sharath and Petrissa were not to be denied. They clinched the next two games, the decider on golden point to put Lions ahead for the first time.
Amalraj raced away with the first game against Sharath before the latter regained his touch in the second in a contest marked by long rallies and deft touches from both players. It was Sharath who had the last laugh after tossing away four match-points from 6-10.
Archana almost altered the script, winning two games and making it 7-7. But Madhurika held her nerve as the Lions had the final roar.
The results:
Chennai Lions bt Goa Challengers 8-7 (Petrissa Solja lost to Cheng I-Ching 10-11, 2-11, 11-6; Tiago Apolonia bt Alvaro Robles 11-5, 2-11, 11-7; Sharath Kamal and Petrissa bt A. Amalraj and Ching I-Ching 9-11, 11-6, 11-10; Sharath bt Amalraj 2-11, 11-9, 11-10; Madhurika Patkar lost to Archana Kamath 9-11, 10-11, 11-8).
Thursday’s fixture: RP-SG Mavericks (Kolkata) v U Mumba (7 p.m.) .
