Indian men beat US 3-1, women lose 0-3 to Romania in World TT

Bremen, Germany, Apr 24 (UNI) Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sharath Kamal led the Indian men to a 3-1 victory over United States while their women counterparts went down to Romania 0-3 in the team events of the World Table Tennis Championships here today.

Kamal lost the first game against M Hazinshi 9-11, but came back strongly to win the next three 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 to set up 1-0 lead for India.

Soumyadeep Roy, however, failed to capitalise on the lead and went down 8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 13-11, 8-11 to Lupulesku.

But, Subhajit Saha gave India a 2-1 lead with a 10-12, 13-11, 11-5, 11-4 win against A Hugh and Kamal wrapped up the best of five tie beating Lupulesku in straight games 11-9, 11-8, 11-9.

India play Turkey tomorrow and Singapore and Finland on Wednesday.

In the women's section, national champion Mouma Das put up a stiff fight in the first rubber, but failed to stop Steff Merutiu from winning 11-8, 12-10, 14-12.

Trailing 0-1, Poulami Ghatak tried to restore parity in the second match snatching the third set from A Zamfir after losing the first two sets, but the Indian Olympian went down tamely in the fourth set thereby losing the match 7-11, 1-11, 11-9, 4-11.

India's chances to stretch the Romanians further in the best of five tie was folded up as Nandita Saha fell to D Dodean in straight sets 10-12, 10-12, 10-12.

Indian eves play Czech Republic and Serbia tommorrow, while they take on Belarus on Wednesday.

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