Asian Games 2018: Men’s team ensure historic Table Tennis medal after reaching the semi-finals

The men’s Table Tennis assured India its first ever medal in the history of the sport at the 18^th Asian Games by beating fancied Japan 3-1 in the quarter-finals in Jakarta on Monday.

Japan who missed three of its best players were still superior both in ranking and experience, but India pulled off a shock to ensure the nation a maiden T-T medal ever since the game was introduced at the intercontinental event in 1958.

Veteran Achanta Sharat Kamal ranked 33^rd in the world drew the opening point after stunning the 19^th ranked Kenta Matsudaira 11-8, 12-10, 11-8 in his only singles match. He was well supported by G Sathiyan, who delivered the goods on the biggest stage, winning both of his singles against the 28^th ranked Jin Ueda and Matsudaira.

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The 39^th ranked young paddler first knocked out Ueda in straight sets before getting the better of Matsudaira in a four-game contest.

We had come close to beating Japan in the Asian Championships last year. So it is not as if it was completely unexpected. We were on the right track and have a solid team now,” said the four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist reported PTI.

“It is an Asian Games medal. I had never dreamt of it,” he added.

The men’s team had earlier lost 2-3 to Chinese Taipei while beating Macau and Vietnam to finish second in the Pool stage.

Meanwhile, the women’s team failed to overcome Hong Kong, losing 1-3 in the quarter-finals to knock themselves out of the tournament.

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Rising star Manika Batra upset World No. 20 Lee Ho Ching to open India’s account in the first singles match of the women’s category. The 57^th ranked Indian won 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6.

But her teammates failed to complement her breathtaking performance with both the others players suffering narrow defeats.

While Ayhika Mukherji lost to the 13^th ranked Doo Hoi Kem 14-12, 4-11, 10-12, 8-11in the second match, Mouma Das went down fighting against Soo Wai Yam Minnie 6-11, 13-11, 11-8, 3-11, 5-11.

Manika then faced Doo in the final quarter-final encounter losing 11-8, 11-8, 13-11 in straight sets to seal the win for Hong Kong.