Indian paddlers finish a respectable 27th in World TT

Dortmund, April 1, 2012: For the first time in many years, not only did the Indian paddlers improve their performances by several notches, but also gained in stature in the Liebherr World Table Tennis Championships here earlier today.

Both the men and women players attained a respectable 27th position, the former gaining seven places and the latter 10 places. In the last championships, Indian men had reached 34th position while the women finished 37th. 

In the match for 27-28 positions against Brazil, India rested Achanta Sharath Kamal and yet they beat 3-2 to be 27th with A. Amalraj notching up two rubber wins after Sanil Shetty and Soumyajit Ghosh both losing their first singles. Amalraj first defeted Calderano Hugo 11-9, 17-15, 6-11, 11-8 and then accounted for Hoyama Hugo 9-1, 4-11, 11-4,12-10, 17-15. 

It seemed a a touch-and-go affiar for Amalraj in the second game where he was stretched by his opponent to 17-15. Though he lost his third game without much fight, he did well to take the next to put India 1-0 up. But Hoyama Hugo and Matsumoto Cazuo won their rubbers against Shetty and Ghosh to put the pressure back on India as well as Amalraj, who had to win the reverse rubber to keep them in the match. 

Amalraj lost his first to games but went all out in the next three to outsmart Hoyama. Then it was left to Shetty who beat Calderano Hugo in straight games of 12-10, 11-9, 15-13. 

But for the women, it was considerably easy affairs as India beat Italy 3-1. Mouma Das and K.Shamini registered wins over their rivals while Ankita Das lost first her singles to Rioolfi Lisa. But the Indian, however, won her reverse singles to make an easy prey out of Italy. 

RESULTS: Men: India beat Brazil 3-2 (Anthony Amalraj  bt  Calderano Hugo 11-9, 17-15, 6-11, 11-8, Sanil shetty lost to Hoyama Hugo 8-11, 11-6, 8-11, 7-11, Soumyajit Ghosh lost to Matsumoto Cazuo  5-11, 2-11, 11-8, 6-11, Anthony Amalraj  bt  Hoyama Hugo  9-11, 4-11, 11-4, 12-10, 17-15, Sanil Shetty bt Calderano Hugo 12-10, 11-9, 15-13.

Women: India beaat Italy 3-1 (Mouma Das bt Trotti Elisa 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, Ankita Das  lost to Rioolfi Lisa 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 10-12, K Shamini bt  Vivarelli Debora 11-6, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, Anita Das bt Trotti Elisa 6-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7.

A TTFI Press Release