Neha stunned in semis, to fight for bronze medal

Pune, Oct 16 (UNI) An off-colour Neha Aggarwal was stunned by her Singaporean rival in straight games to end her campaign in the semi-finals of the girls' singles event of the table tennis competition at the Commonwealth Youth Games here today.

Neha, whose Olympic campaign at Beijing this year lasted just 34 minutes, failed to find her footing in the match and was defeated by Isabelle Li 0-4 (5-11, 6-11, 6-11, 9-11) in just 28 minutes.

The ace paddler was not her usual best and her weak and wayward returns added to her miseries. Though the Indian did try to make a comeback into the match with her last game effort, it was still not enough and Neha had to surrender rather tamely.

Neha, however, will still have a chance to lay her hands on the bronze medal for which she will have to play against the losing player of the other semi-final.

The 18-year-old Neha, who won the gold medal in the doubles event with Soumi Mondal last night, was always trailing her Singaporean rival but the Indian did get a chance in the fourth game but she let it go.

In the last game, Neha had a handsome lead when she was leading 6-2, but Isabelle made a stunning return in the game and levelled the scores at 6-6.

From there on, it was an even exchange of scores but at 9-9, the Singaporean grabbed the two important points to surge ahead a book a place in the final for herself.

UNI RAR AB ht1130