CWG: Indian women claim gold in table tennis

The Indian women's table tennis team defeated Singapore 3-1 to clinch the historic gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Indian women's table tennis team at the Gold Coast on Sunday.

Belief in one’s own abilities is no sacrilege. And this point was proven in good measure as the Indian women’s team table tennis team created history at the Oxenford studio here late into Sunday night.

Even its die-hard supporters would not have given the side any chance to put it across the all-conquering Singapore, but out to make a point that nothing is impossible to a willing heart, the Indians were simply remarkable as they outmuscled the three-time champion 3-1 for a memorable gold medal of the XXI Commonwealth Games.

In defeating England 3-0 in the morning semifinals itself, the Indians had got to their best ever performance till date, getting to the final for the first time since New Delhi 2010. And let there be no doubt that the country does owe a lot to Manika Batra, who was outstanding all the way, be it the group play stages, the semifinal or the final.

The 22-year-old from Delhi did play her heart out all through, and in the final, it was she who put India one-up with an exciting 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 win over Tianwei Feng before Mengyu Yu levelled by getting the better of Madhurika Patkar 13-11, 11-2, 11-6.

The doubles thereby was crucial and it was here that India really scored as veteran Mouma Das and Patkar combined well to conquer the rival pair of Yihan Zhou and Mengyu Yu 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7.

And now it was the turn of Batra to return and complete the formality, which she did with ease, smartly prevailing over Yihan Zhou 11-7, 11-4, 11-7.

England won the bronze medal with a 3-0 win over Australia.

The result:

Women’s team event (final): India bt Singapore 3-1 (Manika Batra bt Tianwei Feng 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7; Madhurika Patkar lost to Mengyu Yu 11-13, 2-11, 6-11; Mouma Das/Madhurika Patkar bt Yihan Zhou/Mengyu Yu 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7; Manika Batra bt Yihan Zhou 11-7, 11-4, 11-7).

Losers’ final: England bt Australia 3-0.

Semifinals: India bt England 3-0 (Manika Batra bt Kelly Sibley 9-11, 11-7, 11-5,11-7; Madhurika Patkar bt Tin-Tin Ho 11-7, 13-11, 10-12, 11-8; Mouma Das/Madhurika Patkar bt Maria Tsaptinos/ Kelly Sibley 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-1). Singapore bt Australia 3-0.