Winning start for Indian men and women paddlers in quarterfinals

Jaipur, May 31 (UNI) Hosts India started their quarterfinal campaign on a winning note as both men and women's team recorded victory in their first league encounter of the 17th Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship here today.

While Indian men paddlers trounced New Zealand 3-0, their female counterparts had to face a stiff challenge from Canada before recording a 3-2 victory.

Meanwhile, in the women section, defending champions Singapore had an easy 3-0 outing against less formidable Nigeria.

In the first tie of men's section, Subhajit Saha defeated Zhilong Brad Chen in four sets 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-4, while Achanta Sharath Kamal had a cake walk over Simon Wallace by 11-4, 11-8, 11-8.

Soumyadeep Roy then rounded off the tie beating Pater Craven 11-6, 12-14, 16-14, 11-5.

However, the scenario was completely different in the women's section as they lost their opening two ties. But they rallied back hard to beat Canada 3-2.

Both Mouma Das and Poulomi Ghatak disappointed as they lost their ties against Mo Zhang and Sara Yuen. Though Mouma lost in straight sets 9-117-11, 8-11, Populomi managed to clinch a set but eventually succumbed to pressure and lost the match 10-12, 11-7,7-11, 8-11.

Then Shamini Kumaresan brought India back to the game with a four set win over Qi Tang 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4. In the return singles, Poulomi fought hard to clinch victory over Mo Zhang 4-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7 to level the scores. The tie was then rounded off by Mouma Das who recorded an esay victory over Sara Yuen 11-4, 11-6, 11-8.

Earlier in the day, the Indian eves trounced both England and Maldives 3-0 to top their group a book a berth for the last eight, while their male counterparts continued from where they left yesterday and recorded a 3-0 victory over Bangladesh.

UNI