Sharath-led Indian TT team leaves for final Olympic qualifier
8 May 2012 4:39 PM GMT
A four-member Indian table tennis team comprising Sharath Kamal left for Doha on Tuesday morning to give it a last shot at qualifying for the London Olympics.
Sharath, national men's and women's champions Anthony Amalraj and Poulomi Ghatak and Shamini Kumaresan, will have to up the ante this time to make amends for their failure at the Asian Qualification tournament in Hong Kong last month.
Young players Soumyajit Ghosh and Ankita Das are the only two to have booked their London berth so far.
The qualifying event beginning Thursday will give India the best chance of clinching a spot each in men's and women's section with almost all top players in Europe and Asia having already made the cut.
Both Bhawani Mukherjee and Leszek Kucharski, the two coaches accompanying the team, said Sharath had the best chance to qualify for his third straight Olympics.
'Sharath displayed excellent form at Hong Kong and we are sure he will not disappoint this time,' said Mukherjee as Kucharski agreed with him.
'From what I saw of Sharath, he is a great player and can beat anyone on his day,' added the Polish coach.
Sharath, national men's and women's champions Anthony Amalraj and Poulomi Ghatak and Shamini Kumaresan, will have to up the ante this time to make amends for their failure at the Asian Qualification tournament in Hong Kong last month.
Young players Soumyajit Ghosh and Ankita Das are the only two to have booked their London berth so far.
The qualifying event beginning Thursday will give India the best chance of clinching a spot each in men's and women's section with almost all top players in Europe and Asia having already made the cut.
Both Bhawani Mukherjee and Leszek Kucharski, the two coaches accompanying the team, said Sharath had the best chance to qualify for his third straight Olympics.
'Sharath displayed excellent form at Hong Kong and we are sure he will not disappoint this time,' said Mukherjee as Kucharski agreed with him.
'From what I saw of Sharath, he is a great player and can beat anyone on his day,' added the Polish coach.
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