New Delhi: In a bittersweet end to their campaign at the 27th Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, the Indian men’s team bowed out in the semifinals today, suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of powerhouse and second-seeded Chinese Taipei.
Following closely in the footsteps of their women counterparts, who also made a respectable run to the semifinals, the men’s team will still return home with heads held high and bronze medals glistening proudly around their necks.
The opening tie saw veteran paddler A. Sharath Kamal, India’s talisman and world No. 42, up against the fearsome Lin Yun-Ju, currently ranked seventh. Lin’s lightning-fast reflexes and razor-sharp precision left little room for Sharath to settle into the game. The 42-year-old Indian fought hard but found himself outgunned in straight games, with Lin closing out the match 11-7, 12-10, 11-9, in a display of ruthless efficiency. Sharath’s loss in the opener was a tough pill to swallow, as the weight of the tie shifted to the young shoulders of Manav Thakkar.
Manav, brimming with promise, stepped up for the second clash with the talented Kao Cheng-Jui, ranked No. 22. Determined not to go down without a fight, the 23-year-old Thakkar showed flashes of brilliance, even managing to steal a game from Kao in a thrilling contest. After a closely contested first game that saw Kao edge it 11-9, Thakkar bounced back to claim the second 11-8, briefly igniting hopes of an Indian resurgence. But Kao quickly regrouped, and his aggressive play coupled with consistent serves proved too much for Thakkar, as the Taipei paddler wrapped up the match 11-9, 8-11, 11-3, 13-11, taking his team to a commanding 2-0 lead.
The pressure shifted to Harmeet Desai, our last line of defence, as he faced world No. 70 Huang Yan-Cheng in the third and decisive tie. Desai, who is ranked 91st in the world, tried to impose his game but was met with stiff resistance from Huang, who seemed to be in sublime form. Huang dictated the tempo and played with a composed dominance that saw him prevail 11-6, 11-9, 11-7. With that, Chinese Taipei sealed their place in the final, leaving the Indian team to reflect on what might have been.
Despite the loss, the Indian men’s team has much to be proud of. A bronze medal at the prestigious Asian Championships is no small feat, especially in the elite continental championships. The men’s and women’s squads showed incredible grit and determination, proving that India continues to rise in the ranks of international table tennis.
These team bronze medals could spur the team members as they shift their focus to the singles and doubles events.
–TTFI
