New Delhi, Indias star paddler Sharath Kamal tapped into his bag of experience to hand Chennai Lions a nerve-wracking 8-7 victory over Goa Challengers in the Ultimate Table Tennis here on Wednesday.
The World No. 32 first shepherded a shaky Petrissa Solja to collect 2 crucial mixed doubles points for his side; then he absorbed a big scare from Amalraj Anthony to add 2 more points to the team’s kitty in the reverse men’s singles.
His 4 points, coupled with 2 from Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia and 1 from Petrissa, meant that the Lions needed only 1 more point in the fifth and final clash to wrap up the match.
The women’s singles featuring two Indians saw Madhurika Patkar steal the solitary point against a rampaging Archana Kamath to seal the win for the Lions. Madhurika lost 1-2 but pumped her fist in delight at saving the day for her team.
Earlier, Goa’s Cheng I-Ching too survived a minor scare to put her side ahead in the opening women’s singles.
The World No. 8 from Taiwan spurted to a big 6-0 lead in the first, only to see Petrissa claw back into the game, allowing it to go all the way to 10-10.
Cheng, however, unleashed a powerful forehand to clinch the crucial golden point and the first point for her team.
She was on song in the second set, though, racing away to a commanding 9-1 lead. She conceded only one more point before winning the game.
The final set, however, saw a different story unfold. Petrissa played a steady game to win it 11-6, tossing one point into the Lions bag.
In an all-European men’s singles clash, Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia put up a dominant display to bring the Lions back into the game. Tiago pulled out his big shots to unsettle Alvaro Robles of Spain.
Tiago won the first set 11-5 but lost his way in the next, capitulating to a 2-11 defeat. He, however, regained his composure to clinch the third set 11-7.
In the crucial mixed doubles encounter, Sharath and Petrissa fell behind straight away, losing to Amalraj Anthony and Cheng I-Ching 9-11 in the first set. Sharath, however, went on the offensive to collect crucial points to set up a 11-6 win in the second.
The decider was a humdinger with Sharath-Petrissa conceding the early advantage. They, however, fought back from 4-8 down to make it 10-10, before claiming the golden point.
In the reverse men’s singles, Sharath once again began on the wrong foot, giving away the first set rather easily at 2-11. He, however, was back to his usual attacking self, jumping to a 6-1 lead. He held on to the advantage to close it 11-9.
In the decider, he was well poised at 10-6 but Amalraj, looking as cool as is possible in a cauldron, made it 10-10. It suddenly became a tense encounter, ending with Sharath’s slow, low serve which brooked no response from Amalraj.
RESULTS:
Chennai Lions bt Goa Challengers 8-7
Women’s singles: Petrissa Solja lost to Cheng I-Ching 1-2 (10-11, 2-11, 11-6)
Men’s singles: Tiago Apolonia bt Alvaro Robles 2-1 (11-5, 2-11, 11-7)
Mixed doubles: Sharath Kamal & Petrissa Solja bt Amalraj Anthony & Cheng I-Ching 2-1 (9-11, 11-6, 11-10)
Men’s singles: Sharath Kamal bt Amalraj Anthony 2-1 (2-11, 11-9, 11-10)
Women’s singles: Madhurika Patkar lost to Archana Kamath 1-2 (9-11, 10-11, 11-8)
