Date:21/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/21/stories/2008082156432300.htm

Sport

Sharath loses

Special Correspondent

BEIJING: Sharath Kamal fought hard to find his rhythm but could not shrug off his erratic play and went down 5-11, 12-14, 2-11, 11-8, 10-12 to Weixing Chen of Austria in the second round of the table tennis event at the Peking University Gymnasium here on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Sharath, the Commonwealth Games champion, had game points in the second and fifth but failed to cash in. Sharath got off to a poor start and struggled to score points. The game was over in three minutes.

In the second, Sharath saved a game point at 9-10 but failed to drive home the advantage when he held a game point at 12-11.

The Austrian, of Chinese origin, who had lost to Sharath two years ago, unleashed a return winner to equalise. A couple of errors from Sharath saw him go two games down.

Lacking accuracy

A disheartened Sharath soon found himself trailing 0-6 in the third. The Indian tried to hit his way out of trouble but he lacked the accuracy. His forehand rarely found the table.

A token of two points was all he could get in the third game which also finished in a mere three minutes. From 3-0 down, it was an uphill battle for Sharath.

“I should have won the second game. But, after I lost the third, I was a little disturbed. I needed to calm down and pull myself together. I really don’t know what happened,” said Sharath after the match.

The Indian champion showed the resolve to win the fourth game, gaining better control over his forehand. Sharath took an 8-5 lead and closed out the game on the second game point.

Chen, quite composed and intense throughout, was once again in command as he raced ahead 8-3 with Sharath making numerous errors.

To his credit, Sharath bridged the gap and fought back from 6-9. He reeled off four points in a row to set up a game point at 10-9.

Too defensive

Sharath, probably worried about his erratic attack, was a touch defensive on game point and paid the price for it. A couple of more errors and the match was over.

“My forehand wasn’t working today. That is normally my strong point. I was messing up my topspin,” said Sharath, unable to conceal his disappointment.