Gold Coast April 5 (IANS) India s men s and women s table tennis teams topped their respective groups to advance to the knockout stages at the 21st Commonwealth Games here on Thursday.
While the men s team defeated Trinidad and Tobago and Northern Ireland in Group 1 the women s team came out on top against Sri Lanka and Wales in Group 2.
Against T&T India registered a 3-0 victory. Amalraj Anthony opened India s win with a 4-1 (11-5 3-11 11-2 14-12) win over Dexter St. Louis before G. Sathiyan doubled the lead with a 3-0 (11-5 11-5 11-4) thrashing of Aaron Wilson.
Already 2-0 up Harmeet Desai and Sathiyan teamed up to beat Yuvraaj Dookram and Aaron Wilson 3-0 (11-9 11-4 11-4) in the men s doubles match making it 3-0 in favour of the Indians.
In the second tie Sathiyan especially continued his impressive show winning a singles and a double match.
While Sathiyan brushed aside Ashley Robinson 3-0 (11-4 11-6 11-4) Achanta Sharth Kamal had it easy against Paul Mccreery in a 3-0 victory (11-6 11-8 11-4).
Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai got past Zak Wilson and Mccreery 4-1 (11-2 9-11 11-5 11-7) to make it 3-0 for India.
The women s team was also impressive. Against Sri Lanka Manika Batra gave India the lead with an easy 3-0 (11-3 11-5 11-3) win over Erandi Warusawithana.
Sutirtha Mukherjee then doubled the lead with a 11-5 11-8 11-4 verdict over Ishara Badu in the second singles tie.
Sutirtha then teamed up with Pooja Sahasrabudhe to beat Badu and Hansani Kapugeekiyana 11-6 11-7 11-3 in the doubles match to seal victory.
India outplayed Wales 3-1 in their second tie with Manika Mouma Das and Madhurika Patkar showing their quality in the singles.
Manika dismantled Charlotte Carey with a 4-1 (11-8 8-11 11-5 11-4) victory to give India a 1-0 lead which was doubled by Mouma after her 3-0 (12-10 11-7 11-7) triumph over Chloe Thomas.
Carey and 11-year-old Anna Hursey the youngest competitor in CWG history rallied to keep Wales in the tie after a 3-2 (11-8 11-5 5-11 7-11 13-11) victory over Mouma and Madhurika.
Madhurika returned in the fourth game of the tie to secure a 3-0 (11-3 11-4 12-10) victory over Chloe. Madhurika s win gave India their 3-1 win.
--IANS
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