Busan (Korea), July 6: India’s challenge in the Asian Table Tennis Championships ended today after four male paddlers, including Achanta Sharath Kamal, failed to advance to the pre-quarterfinals of the men’s singles competition, here today.
Sharath Kamal (68) was comprehensively beaten by 44th ranked Chinese Zhou Yu in four games at Sajik Gymnasium here.
Except for the first game, in which the highest-ranked Indian tried to match the Chinese, Sharath Kamal surrendered meekly in the subsequent games and bowed out of the competition. He lost the match 10-12 3-11 4-11 4-11.
On the other hand, Sanil Shetty (311) fought hard against Matsudaira Kenta (28) of Japan but ended up on the losing side.
After trailing 0-3, Shetty won two consecutive games to challenge his 28th ranked opponent. But the Japanese was too good for the 23-year-old Indian as he wrapped up the match 11-3 11-7 11-8 8-11 9-11 11-5.
In the other third round match, Harmeet Desai was defeated 5-11 9-11 10-12 1-11 by world number one Xu Xin of China.
Anthony Amalraj (158) then lost to Jiang Tianyi (18) of Hong Kong 12-14 4-11 11-8 6-11 11-13 to drew curtains o India’s campaign in the continental championships. (PTI)
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