Tokyo, Apr 28:
Indian men and women’s teams started their campaign on a winning note by defeating Argentina and Nigeria, respectively in their opening matches of the World Team Table Tennis Championships here today.
While Sharath Kamal-led men’s team blanked Argentina 3-0, the women came from behind to beat Nigeria.
Both Indian teams are playing in the biennial tournament’s second division where only the top-two of the 24 teams qualify for the Championships division in the next edition.
The women’s unit, ranked 25, was put under pressure by the 39th-ranked Nigerian team after Madhurika Patkar lost a tight opening singles against Offion Edem 6-11 8-11 11-5 11-7 13-15.
The experienced Shamini Kumaresan levelled the tie by overcoming Olufunke Oshonaike in another match, which lasted five games. Shamini scraped through with a 6-11 11-8 11-9 10-12 11-5 victory.
Manika Batra, the Delhi-based paddler, who plays with a pimpled rubber, gave India the lead by foxing Cecilia Akpan 11-3 11-6 11-5.
Shamini, returning to action for the reverse singles, got the job done by taming Madhurika’s conqueror Edem 11-8 11-8 12-10.
The women next play Portugal tomorrow and men face Australia. (PTI)
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