Amalraj returns to a warm welcome

Anthony Amalraj feels India can reach the second stage of the world championships if it plays as well as it did at CWG 2018.

Anthony Amalraj in action in the men's table tennis team event at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

Anthony Amalraj, who was part of the men’s table tennis team, which regained the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, returned to his city to a warm welcome on Thursday.

Reflecting on his experiences, the former National champion, said: “India performed very well, it augurs well for Indian TT. And the Table Tennis Federation of India with their support and hard-work has earned the desired results with the best-ever performance by the India, which garnered eight medals,” he said.

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According to Amalraj, the fact that five of the men’s paddlers are in the top 100 in the world showed how strong the team was. “The team’s strength was for all to see, and it showed in our performances, too” he said.

Amalraj, ranked 83 in the world, said that if Indian teams (men and women) can maintain their momentum, they can hope to better in the World team championships scheduled in Halmstad (Sweden) from April 29 to May 6.

“If we [Indian men’s] can play like how we did in CWG, we can reach the second stage of world championships,” he said.

India is in Group D with France, Korea Republic, Austria, Croatia and Poland.  “We have to beat 2-3 good teams and hope to finish better in the group," he added.