The Hindu : Sport : India score easy wins over Scotland, Malaysia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 31, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport

India score easy wins over Scotland, Malaysia

K. Keerthivasan

TAKING CHARGE: Captain A. Sharath Kamal played a stellar role in India's win over Scotland.

JAIPUR: For the Indian men, the real battle begins now. As was widely expected in the 17th Commonwealth table tennis championships on Wednesday, the defending champion is set to top the group in the first stage of the event with convincing victories over Scotland (3-1) and Malaysia (3-0). It still has to play lowly Bangladesh in its last group match.

There was a minor scare in the first rubber against Scotland. Self-confessedly a slow starter, who prefers "playing the second or third match," Soumyadeep Roy bungled against a charged up 22-year-old Gavin Rumgay to lose 6-11, 12-10, 7-11, 10-12. Roy lost out in long rallies with his top-spin forehand going awry. The former National champion ended up playing to Gavin's strengths of resorting to a fast and `back of the table' game.

Sharath Kamal, ranked 94 according to the latest world rankings, soon took charge. Against Stewart Crawford, ranked 584 places behind, Sharath won comfortably playing without taking risks and waiting for mistakes from his opponent. There were occasional signs of him losing focus, but he overcame the lapses in concentration. Quite a few shots of his, particularly the backhand flick of the wrist played with knees slightly bent followed by a gentle twist of the wrist, bore the stamp of class.

Subhajit Saha, a steady player, defeated 43-year-old Gordon Clancey, the Scottish coach.

Sharath then showed how to tackle a raw youngster like Rumgay. Giving him little room to free his arms, Sharath cramped Rumgay for space and later deliberately slowed down the pace.

Subhajit's heroics

If Sharath was the star against Scotland, it was Subhajit who emerged the hero in the tie against Malaysia. He had to win to give his team a headstart.

Pitted against Malaysia's top player, Md. Shakirin Ibrahim, Subhajit produced variations in his serve and his top-spin was spot on. He went on to win in four straight games.

Meanwhile, Indian women blanked South Africa 3-0. Botswana and Sri Lanka have not arrived. Bangladesh has sent only one women paddler. In the evening, India blanked England 3-0 and is likely to top its group. It will play Maldives in the last group match.

There has been a slight change in the format. The second stage, like the first, will be played on a league basis. The eight teams will be divided into two groups and the top team from each group will clash in the final.

The results: Men: India bt Scotland 3-1 (Soumyadeep Roy lost to Gavin Rumgay 6-11, 12-10, 7-11, 10-12; Sharath Kamal bt Stewart Crawford 11-1, 13-11, 9-11, 11-7; Subhajit Saha bt Gordon Clancey 11-2, 11-7, 11-5; Sharath Kamal bt Gavin Rumgay 11-5, 11-8, 11-9). India bt Malaysia 3-0 (Subhajit Saha bt Md. Shakirin Ibrahim 5-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-6; Sharath Kamal bt Kian Beng Chai 11-6, 11-9, 11-4; Soumyadeep Roy bt Mao Sheng Kho 11-4, 11-8, 11-7).

Singapore bt Northern Ireland 3-0, bt Canada 3-0; Canada bt Northern Ireland 3-0; Australia bt Cyprus 3-1, bt England 3-1; Nigeria bt Wales 3-1, bt New Zealand 3-0; England bt Pakistan 3-1; South Africa bt Northern Ireland 3-0; Cyprus bt Pakistan 3-2.

Women: India bt South Africa 3-0 (Mouma Das bt Samira Maal 11-8, 11-3, 11-5; Poulomi Ghatak bt Dana Samowitz 11-6, 11-1, 11-6; K. Shamini bt Alisha Van Rooyen 11-5, 11-5, 11-5); India bt Eng 3-0 (Mouma Das bt Helen Lower 11-5, 11-4, 12-10; Poulomi Ghatak bt Kelly Sibley 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6; K. Shamini bt Natalie Bawden 11-7, 11-6, 11-9).

Australia bt Wales 3-0; Malaysia bt Scotland 3-0; Singapore bt Pakistan 3-0; England bt Maldives 3-0.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport