Date:04/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/04/stories/2008080454141800.htm

Sport - Sports : General

Mixed luck for Neha

Nagpur: Beijing-bound woman paddler Neha Aggarwal had mixed luck on Sunday as she lost her first match of the semifinal tie in the all-India Inter-Institutional table tennis championship, although later she regained form to help PSPB clinch a 3-2 victory over RSPB here.

Neha lost to RSPB’s Soumi Mondal 11-8, 12-10, 4-11, 7-11 12-14. She, however, came back strongly to beat India’s No. 7 Anindita Chakraborty 11-4, 11-9, 11-4 in the next match.

It was same tale for her teammate and country’s second best woman paddler Mouma Das. She also lost her first match to Anindita 15-13, 11-5, 7-11, 9-11, 9-11, but later raised her game to beat Soumi 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7.

K. Shamini later turned another tie in PSPB’s favour, beating Runa Roy 11-7, 11-2, 11-6.

In the other semifinal of women’s team event, Dena Bank defeated Air India 3-2 to set up title clash against PSPB.

In the men’s team quarterfinals, India’s No. 8 Pathik Mehta led Air India to a 3-0 win over Canara Bank, while PSPB defeated Dena Bank on identical scoreline.

RSPB also progressed to the last four stage defeating Postal side 3-0, while Food Corporation of India (FCI) beat Airport Authority of India 3-1. — PTI