7 months ago
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So near, yet truthful far. That summed up India’s evening astatine the 28th Asian Table Tennis Team Championship astatine Kalinga Stadium, arsenic its women’s team’s hopes of defending the bronze medal were dashed by Singapore successful a quarterfinal that went down to the deciding match.
Despite conceding the archetypal 2 rubbers, India clawed its mode backmost done Yashaswini Ghorpade and Manika Batra to level the necktie 2–2. But successful the decider, Diya Chitale wilted nether unit against antiaircraft specializer Tan Zhao Yun, whose singular consistency sealed Singapore’s transition into the semifinals.
India volition rue the missed chances — particularly successful the opening 2 encounters — that tilted momentum distant early. For Singapore, though, Tan’s antiaircraft mastery proved the eventual weapon. Her power and saltation not lone unsettled Manika successful the opening lucifer but besides dismantled Diya’s bushed erstwhile it mattered the most.
While Diya struggled to find answers against Tan’s relentless returns, Manika seemed hesitant to spell for her forehand winners against the aforesaid opponent, a caution that outgo her the opener. The lanky Indian, however, made amends aboriginal by outsmarting seasoned Zeng Jian to bring India level.
Zeng, successful turn, utilized her acquisition to outplay Diya successful her archetypal outing, placing Singapore connected the brink of triumph earlier Yashaswini kept India live with a composed performance. Mixing her long-pimpled backhand with timely forehand drives, the youngster displayed maturity beyond her years.
In the end, though, Tan’s defence stood similar a partition India couldn’t breach. For a squad that showed bosom and hunger, the last measurement proved conscionable a span excessively far.
The results: Quarterfinals: Women: Singapore bt India 3-2 (Tan Zhao Yun bt Manika Batra 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8; Zeng Jian bt Diya Chitale 3-11, 12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9; Ser Lin Qian mislaid to Yashaswini Ghorpade 7-11, 8-11, 8-11; Zeng mislaid to Manika 9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 10-12; Tan bt Diya 11-6, 11-5, 11-4).
China bt Thailand 3-0 (Wang Manyu bt Orawan Paranang 11-3, 11-6, 11-6; Sun Yingsha bt Suthasini Sawettabut 11-7, 11-8, 13-11; Kuai Man bt Jinnipa Sawettabut 11-6, 11-11-7, 11-8).
Men: China bt Iran 3-1 (Lin Shidong mislaid to Benyamin Faraji 11-8, 10-12, 8-11, 11-4, 9-11; Liang Jigkun bt Noshad Alamiyan 8-11, 13-11, 11-8, 13-11; Wang Chuqin bt Amir Hossein Hodaei 11-8, 11-8, 11-4; Lin bt Noshad 11-8, 11-9, 11-3).
Taiwan bt DPR Korea 3-2 (Liao Cheng-Ting bt RI Jong Sik 11-3, 15-13, 12-10, Kuo Guan-Hong mislaid to Ham Yu Song 6-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11; Lin Yen-Chung mislaid to Chon Jong Bom 4-11, 14-12, 8-11, 11-4, 16-18; Kuo Guan-Hong bt RI Jong Sik 11-7, 11-8, 12-10; Liao bt Ham 8-11, 11-5, 12-10, 3-11, 11-3).
