Shillong, February 6: India’s men and women team entered the second stage of the table tennis competition at the South Asian Games, being held at the Indoor Stadium here today.

The Indian men’s team, comprising G. Sathiyan, Sanil Shetty and Sudhanshu Grover, first beat Bangladesh in the morning session of their group A match to announce their superiority in the region. Later, in the evening, the hosts team consisting of Devesh Karia, Anthony Amalraj and Sudhanshu Grover, thumped Nepal in their second group A match to keep a clean slate.

Sathiyan accounted for Mahbub Billah 3-0 and it was followed it up by left-handed Sanil Sehtty when he defeated Manash Choudhury 3-1 after dropping a game. Sudhanshu Grover opened with the first-game loss to Mohammad Zaved but steadied himself to beat the Bangladeshi 3-1.

In the match against Nepal, Devesh Karia put India 1-0 up, downing Deep Saun in straight games and then Amalraj capitalized on it with a 3-0 win over Shiv Sundar Gathe before Sudhandhu Grover closed out Amar Lal Malla by a similar margin of victory.

In the semifinals, to be played tomorrow, India will next take on the winner of the match between Nepal and Bangladesh from the group.

In the women’s fare, it was much easier when the hosts’ team of Madhurika Patkar, Manika Batra and Pooja Sahasrabudhe outwitted Maldhives 3-0 and then the other combination of Mouma Das, K. Shanimi and Madhurika Patkar beat Pakistan by the same margin.

In the first group A match against Maldhives, Madhurika opened with a 3-0 win over Fathimal Jumana, Manika Batra accounted for Mueena Mohamed 3-0 ad Pooja Sahasrabuddhe completed the task with a similar win over Rafa Aishath Nazim. In the second match against Pakistan, Mouma Das started bang on with a straight games win over Kashif Raheela. Then it was left to K. Shamini and Madhurika Patkar to down Bilal Shabnam and Ayesha Ansari. The Indians did it so competently that they didn’t waste any time.

From the same group, India will next take on in the semifinals the winner of the match between Maldives and Pakistan who will meet each othertomorrow morning.  

Results:

Men: India bt Bangladesh 3-0 (G Sathiyan bt Mahbub Billah 11-5, 11-7, 11-6, Sanil Shetty bt Manash Choudhury 11-7, 13-11, 8-11, 11-8, Sudhanshu Grover bt Mohammed Zaved 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4). India bt Nepal 3-0 (Devesh Karia bt Deep Saun 11-7, 11-1, 11-5, Anthony Amalraj bt Shiv Sundar 2-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6, Sudhanshu Grover bt Amar Lal Malla 11-7, 11-3, -11, 12-10).

Women: India bt Maldhives: 3-0 (Madhurika Patkar bt Fathimal Jumana 11-6, 11-4, 11-8, Manika Batra bt Mueena Mohamed 11-8, 11-4, 11-3, Pooja Sahasrabuddhe bt Rafa Aishath Nazim 11-2, 11-6, 11-8). India bt Pakistan 3-0 (Mouma Das bt Kashif Raheela 11-7, 11-3, 11-4, K. Shamini bt Shabnam Bilal 11-1, 11-5, 11-7, Madhurika Patkar bt Ayesha Ansari 11-2, 11-3, 11-4).