The Hindu : Sport / Table Tennis : Indian girls enter semifinals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 27, 2006

Sport

Sport - Table Tennis

Indian girls enter semifinals

New Delhi: Indian junior girls pulled off a thrilling 3-2 win over Chinese Taipei and stormed into the semifinals of the Asian junior table tennis championship in Kitakyushu, Japan.

India's win against the fourth seed Chinese Taipei not only ensured its maiden semifinal appearance in the event but also earned it a spot for the World junior table tennis championships in Cairo.

Shamini Kumaresan and Delhi's Neha Agarwal were the architects of the Indian victory. Shamini won two matches while Neha played with patience to clinch the decider.

India started on a losing note as Neha went down 11-8, 6-11, 8-11, 7-11 in the first match against Cheng I Cheng. Shamini then levelled the tie with an 11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9 win over Yuszu Pei.

Ashlesha Bodas lost the third match Hsiung Mei 7-11, 16-14, 7-11, 5-11 and the scale tilted in Chinese Taipei's favour but Shamini had other ideas.

Shamini won against Cheng to raise hopes in Indian camps. She prevailed 11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7 to put the onus on Neha in the crucial last match. Neha displayed a gutsy performance to beat Yuszu Pei 11-4, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7. — PTI

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