For both Ghosh and Ankita, the berths came via the
continental quotas, after they topped from the South Asian region. Ghosh
defeated Anthony Amal Raj 4-0 (12-10, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7) and Ankita downed K.
Shamini 4-3 (8-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-13, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8) to clinch the two
places for India .
Sharath Kamal, who earlier lost to Wu Chi-Chi of Taipei
9-11, 9-11, 7-11, 11-2, 8-11, had to take on Amal Raj to make progress and meet
Ghosh, who had won against Vietnam’s Tran Tuan Quynh. But it was Amal Raj who
defeated Sharath 4-3 (9-11, 12-10, 11-13, 12-10, 4-11, 11-9, 11-3) to shut out
his chances and earn a meeting against Ghosh.
Elated as he was, the 19-year-old Ghosh said it was his
dream to appear on the biggest of all stages. “I have realized my dream today
and will prepare well for the Olympics. It was a real tough match against Amal
Raj and it could have been anybody’s game. I am happy I won it to earn the
spot,” said the Siliguri boy, who became the first Indian to win the world
junior circuit title in 2010.
Ghosh also gave full credit to the ITTF scholarship
programme at the Peter Karlsson academy in Sweden and thanked the Table Tennis
Federation of India (TTFI) for choosing him as a worthy player. “My coaches in
India as well as my training at the Karlsson Academy for six months has stood
me in good stead and I must thank TTFI for selecting me for the scholarship,”
added the BPCL player, who was part of India team’s bronze-winning member at
the world junior championships in 2011.
Similarly, the South Asian regional quota place was left
open to both Ankita and Shamini after Poulomi Ghatak bowed out of the
Qualification tournament early on the second day. And using the opportunity
well, Ankita, 19, beat her senior compatriot to join the Indian contingent at London .
Incidentally, Ankita also became the youngest Indian girl to
qualify for Olympics. The Siliguri girl, who entered the quarterfinals of the
world junior championships last year at Bahrain , gave credit to national
coach Bhawani Mukherjee for giving her the confidence. “Bhawani Da was always
at hand to help in crunch situations. Today’s win against Shamini was my finest
in a tense situation. I look forward to going to London ,”
said Oil India
employee.
In his hour of despair, there were some encouraging words
for Sharath from both Bhwani Mukherjee and TTFI general secretary Dhanraj
Choudhary. According to them the top Indian pro was unlucky at the Hong Kong meet. “He had very good chances to finish among
top four, but the loss to world No. 1 Ma Long did him and the second chance
against North Korean Nam who he had beaten earlier in group stages,” said
Mukherjee.
But Chodudhary said that now Sharath had a very good chance
of qualifying for the London Games at Doha
where Sharath will participate in the World Qualification championships. “With
all top players from Asia having already made the grade at Hong Kong, Sharath’s
chances are very good at Doha .
I am sure, he will definitely qualify for the Olympics to make it a hat-trick
of Games,” said Choudhry.
A TTFI Press release
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