Asian Games TT: Sharath-Shamini in mixed doubles pre-quarters
By IANSMonday, November 15, 2010
GUANGZHOU - India’s Sharath Kamal and Shamini Kumaresan beat the Vietnamese pair of Quang Linh Dinh and Thi Tam Luong 3-1 to enter the pre-quarterfinals of the table tennis mixed doubles event at the Asian Games here Monday.
However, the other Indian pair of Amalraj Anthony and Madhurika Patkar lost to Chih Yuan Chang and Yi Hua Huang of Chinese Taipei 0-3 to bow out at the Guangzhou Gymansium.
Sharath and Shamini faltered in the second game but eventually prevailed over Quang and Thi 11-3, 4-11, 14-12, 12-10. They next play Seiya Kishikawa and Ai Fukuhara of Japan in the round of 16 Tuesday.
Amalraj and Madhurika lost to Chih and Yi 8-11, 5-11, 4-11.
Later, Shamini turned up to play her first round singles against Misheel Surakhbayar of Mongolia. The Indian won comfortably 11-5, 11-1, 11-2, 11-4 to set up a date with world no. 15 Sayaka Hirano of Japan in the second round Thursday.
Compatriot Madhurika lost to lower-ranked Mai Hoang My Trang of Vietnam 11-3, 8-11, 9-11, 8-11, 11-5, 9-11.
India’s top paddler Sharath along with Subhajit Saha will play their first round doubles match Tuesday.
The duo won the gold in the Delhi Commonwealth Games beating higher-ranked Gao Ning and Yang Zi of Singapore in the finals.
The Indian challenge in the team event ended Sunday as the men and women lost in the quarter-finals.
