Indian challenge ends with Sharath Kamal's defeat in Singapore

Singapore, Sep 8 (UNI) Indian challenge at the Volkswagen Singapore Open table tennis championship came to an abrupt end after Commonwealth and SAF Games gold medallist Achanta Sharath Kamal crashed out in the opening round of the main event.

Sharath Kamal was routed 9-11, 3-11, 6-11, 8-11 by Hong Kong's Peng Tang to make a first round exit from the main event.

Earlier, his compatriots Soumyadeep Roy and Subhajit Saha failed to qualify for the main draw.

Sharath promised a good fight in the first game and it was a close affair but the Indian paddler found himself at the wrong end as Tang ran away with it.

Sharath looked rather dejected and Tang exploited the opportunity and didn't allow the Indian to settle into any rhythm and won the next two games to go 3-0 up.

Sharath put up some semblance in the fourth game but in the end, it was too little and too late as his opponent from Hong Kong, by then, had sealed the match.

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