Indian men and women TT teams storm into semifinals

Melbourne, Mar 18 (UNI) The Indian men and women's table tennis teams justified their seedings, scoring identical victories against Canada and Nigeria respectively to storm into the semifinals in the Commonwealth Games here today.

The men, who had an all-win record in the league stage, beat Canada 3-1 and the women, who lost just one match during their league stage, beat Nigeria by the same margin.

Though the scoreline shows India quite easily making it, the paddlers, however, had to toil before emerging winner.

Shubhajit Saha lost his match against Faazil Kassam but Achanta Sharath Kamal managed to win both his matches while Soumyadeep Roy also came from behind to beat Bence Csaba and see India through.

In the women section also, India faced tough resistance from Nigeria and things got worse as Mouma Das lost the first match.

Olympian Poulomi Ghatak, however, won her both the matches and Nandita Saha also chipped in with one to seal the match in India's favour.

In the semifinals, the Indian men will now meet the winners of Nigeria and England, while their female compatriots take on Singapore.

Even if they lose in semifinals, India have a chance to play-off for bronze medal.

Results: Men Quarterfinals: India beat Canada 3-1 (Sharath Kamal bt Pradeeban Peter-Paul 11-3, 11-8, 11-1; Soumyadeep Roy bt Bence Csaba 6-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6; Shubhajit Saha lost to Faazil Kassam 6-11, 15-17, 11-3, 5-11; Sharath Kamal bt Bence Csama 7-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4) Women's quarterfinals: India beat Nigeria 3-1 (Mouma Das lost to Olufunke Oshonaike 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 5-11; Poulomi Ghatak beat Offiong Edem 11-4, 11-3, 11-8; Nandita Saha beat Cecilia Offiong 11-7, 12-10, 12-10; Poulomi Ghatak bt Olufunke Oshonaike 11-9, 11-7, 3-11, 15-13).

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