Indian table tennis men’s team created history by winning their maiden medal at the Asian Games. The team comprising of Gnanasekaran Sathiyan, Achanta Sharath Kamal, Anthony Amalraj thumped a much fancied Japan 3-1 in their last group stage match to enter the semi-final where they lost to South Korea 0-3 to settle for bronze.
Sathiyan started the first tie of the encounter and he cruised past the world Number 8 Lee Sangsu in first set 11-9 to set it up nicely. The Korean however made a commendable return by winning the next three set 9-11 3-11 3-11 to give a 1-0 lead to Korea.
In the next encounter, India’s highest ranked paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal was up against Sik Jeoung. The Indian was up with a fight against a highest ranked opponent but that was not enough to get the better of him as he lost 9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 8-11.
In the third game, Anthony Amalraj was pipped 5-11 7-11 11-4 7-11 by world ranked 22 Woojin Jang as South Korea clinched the tie 3-0.
My Take
India are not a heavyweight competitors in the table tennis event in Asia but this medal well and clearly speaks the volume of rising Indian stature in the continent.
