Date:30/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/30/stories/2006113006602300.htm

Sport - Asian Games

Mixed day for Indian paddlers

ON SONG: Shamini Kumaresan had an easy time against Madina Ayubova. — Photo: AFP

Doha: The Indian women paddlers began their Asian Games campaign with a bang, thrashing Uzbekistan 3-0 in the group stage of the team championship here on Wednesday.

The Indians were never really tested in the Group A tie as they conceded just one game before disposing of the Uzbeks in about 80 minutes in a lopsided contest at the Al Arabi Indoor Stadium.

In the first match, Poulomi Ghatak lost the opening game to Aliye Ismailova 7-11 but bounced back to wrap up the next three games 11-6, 13-11, 11-6.

``I did not find my rhythm in the first game. I just had to calm down a little bit and focus. Once I regained my composure, things became easier,'' Poulomi said.

Anxious moments

National champion Mouma Das then gave India a 2-0 lead, beating Ekaterina Levina 11-4, 12-14, 17-15. Mouma had to overcome some anxious moments, particularly in the second and third games.

Shamini Kumaresan routed Madina Ayubova 11-6, 11-6, 11-2 to give India a 3-0 win.

In the men's section, Achanta Sharath Kamal provided a dream start but India failed to counter the superior skills of the Japanese and went down 1-3.

Sharath, ranked 120, rallied after losing the first game to upset the 65th-ranked Yo Kan 12-14, 13-11, 11-9, 11-6 in a keenly-contested group `A' encounter.

Going down tamely

National champion Subhajit Saha lost the second match to Jun Mizutani 4-11, 9-11, 10-12. India No. 2 Soumyadeep Roy failed to put up any fight as Kali Yoshida scripted a facile 11-6, 11-9, 12-10 victory to give his team a 2-1 lead.

Sharath played the fourth match in a bid to keep the Indian hopes alive but lost to Jun Mizutani in a thrilling five-setter. Mizutani won 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-5.

The results (team championship):

Men: China bt Yemen 3-0; Japan bt India 3-1; Qatar bt Mongolia 3-0; Hong Kong bt Brunei 3-0; Vietnam bt Macau 3-0; Singapore bt North Korea 3-2.

Women: India bt Uzbekistan 3-0; China bt Kuwait 3-0; Hong Kong bt Vietnam 3-0; Japan bt Mongolia 3-0; South Korea bt Lebanon 3-0; Thailand bt Macau 3-0.