Amalraj efforts of no avail as Indians wilt under Taipei pressure

Macau, February 26, 2012: It was so near and yet so far for Indian men paddlers who bowed out of the medal reckoning after losing to Chinese Taipei 2-3 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Table Tennis Championships early today.Later in the evening they lost 1-3 to DPR Korea in 5-8 positional matches.

Earlier, the women paddlers too bit the dust, fist losing to China 0-3 in the quarterfinals and subsequently to both Taiepir and South Korea in a similar fashion to finish eighth in the championships. The Indians, however, shared the winners’ position with Chinese Taipei in the first division and were presented with awards.

But while no one gave a chance to the women team against the rampaging China, it was within the realm of possibility of men who came so close to beating Taipei in the last eight. And the unexpected hero on the day was none other than national champion A. Amalraj who won both his matches against Chen Chien and Huang Sheng Sheng. But Achanta Sharath Kamal, who played to matches and Subhajit Saha who met Wu Chih Chi lost their matches to bow out of medal rounds.

Understandably upset over the outcome, the Indian paddlers went down 1-3 to North Korea and will now play for the 7-8 position game.

Men: Quarterfinals: Chinese Taipei bt India 3-2 (Huang Sheng Sheng  bt  Achantha Sharath Kamal  11-5, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7; Chen Chien An  lost to Anthony Amalraj  11-3, 7-11, 9-11, 8-11;

Wu Chih chi  bt Subjajit Saha  8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7; Huang Sheng Sheng  lost to Anthony Amal raj  11-4, 11-4, 7-11, 6-11, 8-11; Chen Chien An  bt Achantha Sharath Kamal  6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5.

5-8 Position: North Korea bt India 3-1 (Jang Song Man  bt  Anthony Amalraj  11-3, 11-4, 11-9; Hyok Bong  Kim lost to Achanta Sharath Kamal  14-12, 6-11, 5-11, 8-11; Kim Song Nam  bt  Soumyajit Ghosh  8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5; Jang Song Man  bt  Achanta Sharath Kamal  4-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5.

Women: Quarterfinals: China bt India 3-0 (Ding Ning bt Mouma Das  11-7, 11-8, 11-3, Guo Yan  bt  Poulomi Ghatak  13-11, 11-5, 11-3, Guo Yue  bt  Ankita Das  11-2, 11-7, 11-8

5-8 Positions: Chinese Taipei bt India 3-0 (Chen Szu Yu  bt  Mouma Das  6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7;  Cheng I ching  bt Poulomi Ghatak  13-11, 11-4, 11-2’ Liu Hsing Yin  bt  Ankita Das  7-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8.

7-8 Position: North Korea bt India 3-0 (Kim Jong  bt Poulami Ghatak 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7; Ri Myong sun  bt  Mouma Das  11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4; Kim Hye Song  bt  Shamini Kumaresan  11-1, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7.

A TTFI Press release