Falcons TTC strengthened its claim for a semifinal place at the Ultimate Table Tennis League with a 17-10 win over Maharashtra United at the NSCI indoor stadium.
Falcons’ Sanil Shetty won his men’s singles tie against Joao Monteiro in the sixth match of the night, reeling off three games in a row against the Portuguese. Monteiro had earlier won his singles against Par Gerell 2-1 to improve Maharashtra United’s tally of games won.
Wong Chin Ting displayed control and deceptive strokes to unsettle Laim Pitchford in the eighth tie, but Falcons could not be denied its third victory in five matches. Liam had earlier tasted victory; against an assertive Harmeet Desai he hit a series of forehand winners and kept changing the angles to hammer out a 3-0 win. The latter roared back after losing the opening game to reel off winners before going down fighting to a classier opponent.
Sutirtha Mukherjee pulled Falcons through in the women’s singles, proving the more solid player against Fu Yu, whose early confidence dissipated as the points began mounting against her. The latter banked on deceptive strokes to catch up 6-6 in the third but could not build on the momentum.
Harmeet returned to the table for an enthralling mixed doubles tie, partnering Liu Jia. The first two games were won on the golden point; the Falcons pair of Sanil Shetty and Lee Ho Ching played more efficiently to take the consolation third game 11-5.
Long and thrilling rallies marked the second men’s singles between left-handers Joao Moneiro and Par Gerell, the former sneaking home 2-1 and infusing hope in the Maharashtra United camp. Playing away from the table, both players twisted themselves into position for returns.
Falcons TTC bt Maharashtra United 17-10
Men’s singles: Liam Pitchford bt Harmeet Desai 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-9).
Women’s singles: Sutirtha Mukherjee bt Fu Yu 2-1 (6-11, 11-5, 11-9).
Mixed doubles: Sanil Shetty & Lee Ho Ching lost to Harmeet Singh & Liu Jia 1-2 (11-10, 11-10, 5-11).
Men’s singles: Par Gerell lost to Joao Monteiro 1-2 (5-11, 10-11, 11-8).
Women’s singles: Wu Yang lost to Liu Jia 1-2 (10-11, 11-5, 9-11).
Men’s singles: Sanil Shetty bt Joao Monteiro 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-10).
Women’s singles: Wu Yang bt Krittwika Roy 3-0 (11-4, 11-4, 11-5).
Men’s singles: Wong Chin Ting bt Liam Pitchford 3-0 (111-10, 11-9, 11-3).
Women’s singles: Lee Ho Ching bt Fu Yu 2-1 (6-11, 11-4, 11-4).
Comments
SHARE