Indian men’s TT team draws blank for first time
29 July 2014 5:43 AM IST
Indian men’s table tennis team failed to secure a medal for the first time at the Commonwealth Games after being stunned 1-3 by Nigeria in the bronze medal play-off at the Scotstoun Sports Campus on Monday.
India, who suffered a heartbreaking 1-3 loss against England in the semifinal last night, were found listless against a defiant Nigerian outfit. The unexpected loss meant Indian men will return empty handed from the team event for the first time since the sport’s introduction in the Games at Manchester in 2002.
India’s foreign coach Peter Engel had expected the paddlers to win at least three medals in Glasgow but that prospect looks unlikely with a blank in team events. India won a record five medals in Delhi four years ago. World No. 44 Sharath Kamal gave India a good start by getting past 153 ranked Segun Toriola 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 in the opening singles. Games debutant Harmeet Desai was next up against Nigeria number one Aruna Quadri. But the Nigerian proved too good for the 21-year-old Indian, dispatching him 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5. The doubles rubber too went Nigeria’s way. The combine of Ojo Onaolapo and Toriola edged out Anthony Amalraj and Desai 3-11, 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 for a 2-1 lead in the match. Sharath was then stunned by Onaolapo’s fearless play, as the Indian ace lost 9-11, 11-3, 7-11, 5-11.
India, who suffered a heartbreaking 1-3 loss against England in the semifinal last night, were found listless against a defiant Nigerian outfit. The unexpected loss meant Indian men will return empty handed from the team event for the first time since the sport’s introduction in the Games at Manchester in 2002.
India’s foreign coach Peter Engel had expected the paddlers to win at least three medals in Glasgow but that prospect looks unlikely with a blank in team events. India won a record five medals in Delhi four years ago. World No. 44 Sharath Kamal gave India a good start by getting past 153 ranked Segun Toriola 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 in the opening singles. Games debutant Harmeet Desai was next up against Nigeria number one Aruna Quadri. But the Nigerian proved too good for the 21-year-old Indian, dispatching him 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5. The doubles rubber too went Nigeria’s way. The combine of Ojo Onaolapo and Toriola edged out Anthony Amalraj and Desai 3-11, 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9 for a 2-1 lead in the match. Sharath was then stunned by Onaolapo’s fearless play, as the Indian ace lost 9-11, 11-3, 7-11, 5-11.
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