The gulf in school was clearly seen because the Indian males’s workforce was blanked 3-0 by Chinese language Taipei within the semifinal of the Asian TT Championships in Astana on Thursday.
Whereas their win over Kazakhstan within the quarterfinal yesterday confirmed a medal for India, they couldn’t up their recreation towards the Taipei aspect led by World No. 11 Lin Yun-Ju.
Regardless of the loss, confirming their third successive medal on the Asian Championships — they clinched bronze on the 2021 and 2023 editions — is a large deal however the Indian workforce, led by veteran Sharath Kamal, must deeply ponder how they’ll elevate their recreation to a degree the place they’ll compete with the very best in Asia. Thoughts you, the Taipei aspect is definitely among the many high 4 in Asia after China, Japan, and Korea.
Whereas the strategy of placing the ball again onto the desk irrespective of the return is a standard thread, the Indian girls have managed to beat high gamers, utilizing their pimpled rubbers to outsmart their opponents whereas additionally working tirelessly on their health and forehand assaults. In distinction, the boys’s recreation relies on sheer energy and pace the place agility is vital.
Former India participant Aman Balgu, who at present coaches Manika Batra mentioned that the highest worldwide gamers are supremely match and that’s one of many key variations.
“If you happen to see the highest gamers, they bend much more, staying decrease to the desk. It’s not at all times the case with our gamers. With a view to try this constantly, you want immense health and I really feel that’s undoubtedly one space the place if we enhance, we will produce higher outcomes towards high gamers.”
In opposition to the Taipei workforce, there was a gulf in school in all three departments.
42-year-old Sharath opened the match towards the very agile Yun-Ju. When it comes to method, Sharath’s wealth of expertise is unmatchable. He has been the Indian males’s desk tennis flagbearer for nearly twenty years and there’s little that he doesn’t know concerning the sport. But Yun-Ju, who received the WTT Champions in Frankfurt final 12 months, was capable of masterfully dominate him by shifting him backward and forward. Sharath simply wasn’t capable of match the tempo and Yun-Ju’s down-the-line backhands had been an excessive amount of for him to deal with.
After shedding the opening recreation 11-7, Sharath tried to power himself into the match by holding a lead in a second recreation, taking it to tie-breakers, however simply couldn’t go over the road. He had a 2-point lead within the third recreation too, however was wasteful along with his serves, giving Yun-Ju to alternative to assault and take the match.
The one shiny spark in your entire tie got here from World No. 60 Manav Thakkar taking a recreation off World No. 22 Kao Cheng-Jui. Although he misplaced the match 3-1 (11-9, 8-11, 11-3, 13-11), barring the third recreation, he was at all times within the contest, even taking the fourth recreation to tie-breakers the place he was unlucky to concede a web level.
In what turned out to be the ultimate match of the tie, Harmeet Desai was blown away by World No. 70 Huang Yan-Cheng 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-7). Although Harmeet hasn’t been in the very best of type, he was anticipated to present Yan-Cheng an excellent struggle however the Taipei participant had a solution to all of his assaults. Harmeet simply wasn’t fast sufficient to reply to Yan-Cheng’s returns that fell to his backhand and was repeatedly punished.
Coach Massimo Costantini instructed The Indian Specific from Astana that whereas he was happy with the efficiency as a complete, he needs particular person gamers to step up and get these massive wins.
“Technically or tactically we did nothing mistaken. We misplaced towards a greater workforce with higher gamers. I’m pleased with what we now have achieved at this event although everyone knows that we now have to enhance. The best way we’ll enhance is by getting wins towards high gamers.
“Manav was enjoying towards a top-20 participant however his opponent was really a bit frightened of enjoying towards him. That’s an excellent signal nevertheless it’s provided that we get one massive win is after we will proceed getting massive wins. That may come by enjoying collectively at extra worldwide tournaments,” the Italian mentioned.
Manav instructed The Indian Specific that by travelling and coaching as a unit, they’re slowly enhancing.
“Now we have workforce conferences day-after-day the place we evaluation the whole lot. That occurred solely sporadically earlier. It’s good to get totally different views as a result of everybody right here needs the opposite to enhance and no person factors fingers on the different. It’s nice as a result of we all know there’s at all times a workforce to again us it doesn’t matter what.”
