India secured a place in the main draw of the Asian Table Tennis Championship’s Champions Division after an inspired performance by Sharath Kamal helped them defeat Thailand in a First Division encounter on Monday in Wuxi in China, PTI reported.
This was the second occasion that India have made it to the quarterfinals of the Champions Division of the Asian event where they are drawn to meet Japan. Before they do so, they will first clash with DPR Korea in the final of the First Division.
Thailand started off strongly as Padasak Tanviriyavechakul beat G Sathiyan in the opening rubber 11-9, 11-6, 14-12. Kamal brought India back into the match with a straight games triumph of 11-9, 11-5, 11-6 against Supanut Wisutmaythangkoon.
“In the first match against Supanut I was down 3-8, but came back to win 11-9. That gave me the confidence against Padasak. I never let him play to his strength, his fierce forehands,” said Kamal.
The 34-year-old soon after returned to make sure that the Indians were not denied a place in the main draw when he defeated Padasak 11-7, 11-6, 11-4, despite the Thai being very strong on his forehands. The tall Indian was at his best in the crucial rubber and reeled off winners after winners with his backhand working well.
However, India’s women’s team were knocked out in the semi-finals of the First Division, going down to Chinese Taipei 1-3. They will not play the 9-12 classification matches.