India men qualify for World team table tennis championship prequarterfinals despite loss to France

India is yet to seal its place in the pre-quarterfinals. India is hoping to advance as one of the two best third-placed teams.

File Picture: Felix Lebrun beat G. Sathiyan 11-4, 11-2, 11-6. | Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR

CHENDGU (CHINA)

India lost to France 3-0 in its final Group-2 men’s match of the World team table tennis championships in Chengdu on Tuesday, but still made it to the knockouts (pre-quarterfinals), where it will take on the top seed China.

India advanced to the round-of-16 as one of the two best third-ranked teams with the other being England.

The Indian women’s team which had already made it to the pre-quarterfinals, will take on Chinese Taipei.

The result

Group 2: France bt India 3-0 (Alexis Lebrun bt Manav Thakkar 11-6, 11-8, 11-8; Felix Lebrun bt G. Sathiyan 11-4, 11-2, 11-6; Jules Rolland bt Harmeet Desai 11-13, 13-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7).