Date:21/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/21/stories/2008082160932300.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 resolve

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.