Date:26/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/26/stories/2006042604461900.htm

Sport - Table Tennis

Indian women go down to Czech Republic

Bremen (Germany): Poulomi Ghatak's gallant victory against world No. 91 Iveta Vacenovska went in vain as India lost 3-1 to the Czech Republic in the women's championship division of the World table tennis championship here on Tuesday.

Ghatak, ranked a lowly 225, upset Vacenovska 3-2 and was well on her way for another big win against Renata Strbikova in the fourth match, but lost the gruelling battle 3-2.

National champion Mouma Das and Nandita Saha lost their respective matches as the 15th-seeded Czech Republic registered its first win of the championship, having lost the first one to China.

India, who is playing in the top division after a gap of 25 years, is seeded at the bottom, in the 24th place.

India has now two points after two defeats, the first being to Romania on Monday.

Ghatak provided the right start for India as she rallied to beat Vacenovska 11-5, 14-12, 9-11, 8-11, 11-6.

Strbikova then beat Mouma Das 11-5, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8 to level the tie, while Jona Dobesova got the better of Nandita Saha 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 15-13, to give a 2-1 lead to her team.

It was left to Ghatak to bring India back into the match as she took on Stribikova, 84 places higher than her in the rankings. Ghatak put up an impressive show, but lost 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 15-13, 4-11.

India next plays Serbia on Wednesday. — PTI