Brave Abhishek bows out with bronze at Asian Youth Games

Nanjing, August 19, 2013: Abhishek Yadav fought valiantly against world No. 1 and top-seeded Chinese Zhendong Fan before bowing out 2-4 (4-11, 13-11, 13-11, 4-11, 8-11, 7-11) in the semi-final of men’s singles event at the second Asian Youth Games here tonight. But with no play-offs, the Indian ensured himself a bronze medal on his maiden appearance at the Games.

Incidentally, he booked his place in the Youth Olympics Games to be held here next year as the top eight players make it to the Games automatically.

Yadav, despite losing the first game, came back strongly in the second and third to lead 2-1. But in the fifth game, Yadav ran the top-seed Chinese close with his courageous forehand and backhand topspin as he reduced the margin from 4-9 to 8-9 when the Chinese took timeout. What a nice strategy it turned out to be as the world junior champion never looked back after that.

The Indian, despite losing the semi-final, was lauded by the appreciating crowd for giving a hard time to the home boy. “I am happy with my overall performance. But the Chinese was too good a player,” said Yadav, giving full credit to his rival.

“We are happy that Abhishek gave a good fight before going down to the junior world champion,” said team manager Jayesh Acharya. “Even out girl Suthirtha Mukherjee did well up to the pre-quarters. We will return home tomorrow with something to show from our boy,” he remarked.

Marathon game

In the morning, Yadav played a marathon fifth game to defeat Malaysia’s Dunley Foo in the quarterfinals, which practically ensured the Indian at least a bronze medal at the ongoing second Asian Youth Games here this morning.

The Indian disposed of Foo 4-1 (11-6, 11-5, 15-13, 5-11, 18-16) in 41 minutes, which included two games that stretched every sinew of the left-handed Yadav and tested his patience to no end.  Yadav had the measure of his rival in the first two games, but in the third from 9-7 allowed the Malaysian come back but the Indian teenager put up a grat fight to take the game at 15-13, the battle lasting full 10 minutes.

Though the Malaysian took the fourth game to keep his chances alive, the Indian, leading 6-4, allowed Foo some leeway and he surged ahead to 10-8. But Yadav managed to keep his opponent on check to level the score at 16-16. At this point, Yadav held his serve and returned well to go up 17-16 before cashing in on Foo’s mistake to break his service to take the game and match in 12 minutes.

A TTFI Press release

Abhishek ensures bronze at Youth Games

Nanjing, August 19, 2013: Abhishek Yadav, playing a marathon fifth game, defeated Malaysia’s Dunley Foo to enter the semi-finals of the men’s singles, thus ensuring himself at least a bronze medal at the ongoing second Asian Youth Games here this morning.

The Indian disposed of Foo 4-1 (11-6, 11-5, 15-13, 5-11, 18-16) in 41 minutes, which included two games that stretched every sinew of the left-handed Yadav and tested his patience to no end. He will now meet the top-seeded Chinese Zhendong Fan in the semi-final later this evening. The Chinese beat Taipei’s Chia-Hung Sun in straight games.

With no play-off, both the losing semi-finalists will be awarded bronze medals.

“I am completely drained out. Two big games, particularly the last one, sapped my energy. But I held my nerve to go past him (Foo),” said Yadav. Asked about his opponent in semi-final, Yadav said he was wary of the Chinese. “I will play to my strength and let’s see,” he said.

Yadav had the measure of his rival in the first two games, but in the third from 9-7 allowed the Malaysian come back and level the score first at 9-9. From there, the see-saw battle continued with none giving a quarter to the other. For the first the Malaysian went 12-11 up before Yadav caught up with him to make 13-13. That was also the end of resistance from Foo as the Indian took the next two points to go 3-0 up, the fifth game taking full 10 minutes.

However, the Malaysian took the fourth to keep himself in the match. Then the real marathon began and Yadav, leading 6-4, in the fifth game allowed Foo take charge. He surged ahead to 10-8 but Yadav on his serve equalled the score to breathe easy. At 16-icture seemed gloomy for the Indian as Foo was not only returning well but was catching his rival on the wrong foot. Then came the turning point as Yadav served and returned well to go up 17-16 and waited to cash in on Foo’s mistake when he served next to take the game and match in 12 minutes.

Team manager Jayesh Acharya was happy for Abhishek. “It was a crucial game (fifth) and what impressed me was the way Abhishek won those crucial points,” said Acharya.  “We came to the Games with two paddlers and am happy we will not go empty-handed,” he remarked.

Press release

Abhishek in quarterfinals at Nanjing Games table tennis

 Nanjing, August 18, 2013: It was a mixed bag for the two-member Indian table tennis team at the second Asian Youth Games here as Abhishek Yadav entered to the quarterfinals in the men’s singles to keep India’s medal hope in the sport, while it was curtains for Suthirtha Mukherjee, who bowed out in the pre-quarterfinals here this evening.

Yadav defeated Iran’s Soroosh Amiri Nia 4-2 (6-11, 4-11, 117, 11-8, 11-9, 11-8) in a 44-minute pre-quarterfinal duel. The Indian, competing at the Games as an Independent Olympic Athletic under OCA flag following the suspension of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), was slow to start with, losing the first two games in just 11 minutes.

Yadav will meet Malaysian Dunley Foo in the quarter-finals tomorrow morning. Foo subdued Japanese Tonin Ruzakiy 4-3 in the pre-quarterfinals. 

Yadav, however, upped the ante in the next two rather comfortably to restore parity. But in the fifth game, Yadav trailed 1-5 before making a steady progress to level the score at 7-all. From there on, it dragged for a while as both the Iranian and the Indian were level at 9-9. With serve on, the Indian simply shut out the Iranian challenge to go 3-2 up.

That was the indication for Yadav to go all out in the next game as he ran up a good lead at 5-1. But Nia managed to bring himself back into the match by reducing the margin to mere two points. However, the day belonged to the Indian who increased the lead to four points at 10-6. Serving for the game and match, he made errors at the net and sent one out to allow his opponent two crucial points. But Nia returned the compliment on his service and the Indian, without wasting any time, clinched the points with a forehand scorcher.

“The fifth game was crucial. The moment I won it, I grew in confidence and went all out in the sixth. My attacking game paid dividends,” said the left-handed Yadav.

But for the fifth seeded Suthirtha Mukherjee, it was all over for the Kolkata youngster as she failed to match the guile of Seul Lee or Korea who won 4-0 (11-7, 11-7, 13-11, 11-4). The Korean took just 28 minutes to clean up Suthirtha who, despite going neck and neck in the first two games at 6-6, lost the initiative. In the third she fought valiantly but the Korean clinched the game at 13-11. In the next the Indian’s drooping shoulders told the tale as the Korean finished the game in just four minutes.

A TTFI Press release