The Hindu : Sport : Double for Singapore; agony for India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 03, 2007
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Sport

Double for Singapore; agony for India

K. Keerthivasan

Chinese imports do the trick for the winner

DOUBLE DELIGHT: Singapore made it a memorable outing by winning both the men's and women's team titles. — Photo: Sandeep Saxena

JAIPUR: Gao Ning, Yang Zi and Cai Xiao Li — three top-quality paddlers went about their task in a fashion typical of their country — clinical and methodical. Singapore maintained its cool and as predicted by all and sundry scripted a 3-0 win over India in the men's final of the 17th Commonwealth table tennis championships at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium here on Saturday.

Singapore had earlier clinched the women's final defeating Malaysia 3-1 thereby retaining the title.India's defeat, one couldn't call it abject surrender. Sport at the highest level is all about seizing the moment. India despite having been presented with several opportunities failed to grab them.

A tense Sharath

Everybody thought India's top player Sharath Kamal's match against Yang Zi would probably be in favour of Sharath. No doubt, it was a keenly fought match. Sharath initially appeared tense committing many unforced errors. He slowly came to his groove in the fourth game.

The forehand top-spin drives did get him quite a lot of points. Lefty Yang Zi's drives especially on the backhand side were unplayable. Leading 2-1, Sharath saved three game points in the fourth game from 10-7 but couldn't do much.Nobody expected Soumyadeep Roy to beat Gao Ning, ranked 25, in the second rubber. Soumyadeep went all out in the first game. Had he won the first game where he had four game points, the tide might have turned. Gao then ripped apart Soumyadeep in the next two games.

Man for all seasons

Subhajit Saha, a man for all seasons, played his heart out against Cai Xiao Li. Whether it was a rally close to the table or away from the table, he matched Li. Down by two matches, the pressure was simply too much on Subhajit to handle. For Singapore men, it was its maiden win in the championships.

Captain Sharath said, "it was not the result of the efforts we had put in."

He maintained that his match was crucial in India's scheme of things.

A revelation

Malaysia's Lee Wei Beh was a revelation in the way she approached the women's first match against a much-superior Bei Bei Sun. Lee won the first tie.

The second, third and fourth matches were tough ones but Singapore pulled it off. Its double — men and women's titles — triggered a debate about the policy of hiring Chinese players. The debate is not going to die soon.

Glasgow calling

The next Commonwealth table tennis championships will probably be held in Glasgow, Scotland in June 2009.

Alan Ransome, Chairman, Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation (CTTF), said that Scotland had been given time till September 30, 2007 to satisfy the bid criteria. If it did not satisfactorily meet them, Pakistan would host the 2009 Commonwealth championships. Moreover, Scotland is likely to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, also.

In another significant decision at the Annual General Body Meeting of CTTF held here on Saturday, Ajay Singh Chautala, currently President, Table Tennis Federation of India, was unanimously, elected the President of CTTF.

M.C. Chowhan, Secretary-General, Table Tennis Federation of India, said a second string team of six boys and girls paddlers would be selected by June 4 so as to prepare them for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

"We will select the best players on merit and send them for Pro-Tours and other important championships," Chowhan said.

The National coaches have been announced. Kamlesh Mehta will be in charge of men, while Mantu Ghosh for women and junior girls. Manjit Dua will take care of the junior boys.

The results: Men (final): Singapore bt India 3-0 (Yang Zi bt Sharath Kamal 7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7; Gao Ning bt Soumyadeep Roy 16-14, 11-7, 11-7; Cai Xiao Li bt Subhajit Saha 7-11, 11-4, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6).Women: Singapore bt Malaysia 3-1 (Sun Bei Bei lost to Lee Wei Beh 8-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 8-11; Yue Gu Wang bt Sock Khim NG 11-7, 11-4, 5-11, 5-11, 11-8; Paey Fern Tan bt Soo Jim Chiu 9-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-8).

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