New Delhi: Without breaking a sweat, Chinese Taipei defeated India 3-0 to enter the quarterfinals of the ITTF World Championships Finals at the High-Tech Sports Centre, Chengdu, today.
Their victory in the pre-quarterfinals was in tune with Taipei’s status as the World No. 7 team, based on the current ranking. And they took a little over an hour to complete the job.
Manika Batra put up a good fight in the first two games of the opening tie against Chen Szu-Yu, but the world No. 22 accounted for the Indian, ranked No. 44, 11-7, 11-9, 11-3. Sreeja Akula and the CWG gold medal winner in mixed doubles, playing the second rubber, did well to take a game off her Taipei rival, Cheng I-Ching. But the world No. 35 wrapped it up quickly to win 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9.
But Taipei was given some torrid moments when their singles player, Liu Hsing-Yin, met her match in Diya Chitale. Though the higher-ranked Taipei women began well, she started wilting when Diya took the attack to the opposition. The 122-ranked Indian, cashing in on some unforced errors by Liu, led 2-1. However, Liu made strong statements to take the last two games to see her side through to the quarterfinals.
For a squad that was ranked No. 21 before its Worlds outing, it was not a bad experience for the young Indian team that will see itself a few steps up in the ranking ladder, finishing among the top-16 teams.
The Indian men will take on China in the pre-quarterfinals tomorrow, and they have their tasks cut out against the top-seeded team, also the favourites to win the title.
TTFI release
