It was a memorable day for the Indian paddlers as they entered the finals of the second division of the 2016 World Championships in both men’s and women’s sections here today.
After defeating Nigeria 3-2 in the quarter-finals earlier in the day, Indian men defeated Egypt 3-1 in the semi-finals to achieve the rare feat of making it to the final.
It also sealed India’s entry in the Champions Division.
The Indian men will take on Brazil, who downed Serbia 3-1 in the other semi-final, in the final tomorrow that will decide the position they achieve in this championships.
In the women’s section, India beat Serbia 3-2 to enter the final. They will meet Luxembourg in tomorrow’s Second Division final. Luxembourg beat Croatia 3-2 in the other semi-final today.
It was Achanta Sharath Kamal once again, who led from the front for the second time today, helping the Indian men reach the final. After Soumyajit Ghosh failing again in the opening rubber against Omar Assar, it was left to Sharath to pull the rug from under the feel of Egypt.
The ace Indian beat Mohammed El-Beiali 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 to level the score and in a very tricky third rubber, Harmeet Desai accounted for El-Sayed Lashin 3-2 to leave matters in the hand of Sharath who was to play his reverse singles next against Omar Assar.
And the top-ranked Indian did not disappoint as he simply disposed of Assar in straight games to seal India’s entry in the Champions Division and also in the final of the Second Division.
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