India end campaign on a high

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Achanta Sharath Kamal

Achanta Sharath Kamal had a chance of avenging his team championship loss to Hu Li in the men’s singles semi-finals on Friday. But the 69th-ranked Indian yet again failed to get past his familiar Singaporean rival, only to be content with a bronze as India wrapped up their campaign with nine medals at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships here.

Sharath Kamal’s 1-4 (10-12, 7-11, 13-11, 10-12, 4-11) loss in the singles came after he and Subhajit Saha faltered in the men’s doubles semi-final to the English pair of Christopher Doran and Samuel Walker 2-3. But for India, it was their best-ever medal haul minus a gold this time. In the last edition at Glasgow, they had won a gold in the men’s doubles besides six other medals.
On Friday, the hosts finished their campaign with six more medals — all bronze though — to take their medals tally to nine, which also included two silvers. India clinched the silver medals in the men’s team championships and the mixed doubles event.
On the day, Sharath came up with an improved show, but it wasn’t enough. If the Indian was superior in long rallies, Hu was brilliant closer to the table. Sharath also came up with better forehand drivers but failed to match the speed and guile of Hu.
The men’s singles gold went to top seed Singaporean Jian Zhang, who beat Hu in straight games 4-0 (13-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6) while the 164th ranked Mo Zheng upset world no. 27 and top seed Mengyu Yu 4-3 (11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 5-11, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8) to take the women’s crown.
Singapore finished with six gold, two silver and three bronze.

Missed chances for Manika, Mouma
Earlier, Manika failed to cash in on the opportunity of making it to a Commonweath final as the 18-year-old faltered at crucial junctures to her more experienced Canadian opponent.
Manika lost 3-4 (9-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 6-11) to settle for a bronze, as did veteran Mouma after she failed to shrug off the challenge from Singaporean finalist Mengyu 2-4 (8-11, 17-15, 11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 4-11) in another women’s singles semis clash.
In the women’s doubles semis, Mouma and K. Shamini surrendered to eventual champions Tianwei Feng and Mengyu 0-3 (11-9, 11-9, 11-2) of Singapore.
For Mouma, her singles rubber started on a tight note with both the paddlers picking points alternatively before the Indian lost 8-11.
Mouma returned strongly in the second and led 4-1 initially, before extending it to 9-5. But Mengyu bounced back to level 14-14 before Mouma had the last laugh 17-15.
Mouma took the next game to be 2-1 up, but failed to match the pace of Mengyu to lose three games on the trot.
Neha Aggarwal and Madhurika Patkar lost to runners up English duo of Joanna Parkar and Kelly Sibley 2-3 (11-7, 2-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7), but earn India another bronze.