Paddlers continue winning run

The table tennis competition of the 9th SAF Games was fast resembling the national championships as the Indian paddlers marched steadily in the preliminary rounds in the individual events in Islamabad on Sunday.

Both men and women maintained their winning form to enter the semifinals in most of the categories and if the team events were any indication, an Indian clean sweep is in the offing on Monday.

National champion Sharath Kamal defeated Rajendra Kapali of Nepal 11-7, 11-7, 11-5, 12-10 while Soumyadeep Roy disposed of Chalitha Ranjana of Sri Lanka 11-6, 11-5, 11-2, 11-7 in the men's singles quarterfinals.

Subhajit Saha and Ranabir Das ousted Pakistan's Farjad Saif Khan and Asim Qureshi 12-10, 11-4, 11-4 for a summit clash in the men's doubles final with Kamal and Roy who overcame Sri Lankan duo Thilina Laknath and Indika Prasad 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7.

India have already the mixed doubles gold and silver in their kitty after Kamal and Vishakha beat Roy and Mantu Ghosh 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-10 on Saturday.

Other results:

Men: singles, quarterfinals: Farjad Saif Khan (Pak) bt Al Mahbub Billah (Bangla) 11-3, 12-10, 11-9, 11-8; Thilina Laknath (Sri) bt Asim Qureshi (Pak) 11-7, 11-9, 11-4, 10-12, 7-11, 13-15, 11-9;

Women: Singles, quarterfinals: Mouma Das bt Sandhya Shakya (Nep) 14-12, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6; Poulami Ghatak bt Muna Basukala (Nep) 11-2, 11-2, 11-7, 11-6; Ghazala Rohi (Pak) bt Kalpani Jayapadma (Sri) 4-11, 11-7, 11-6, 13-11, 10-12 11-4; Deepika Subhashini (Sri) bt Rahila Kashif (Pak) 11-6 4-11 4-11 6-11 11-9 11-9 13-11.

Doubles, semifinals: Mouma Das/ Vishakha Vijay bt Deepika Subashini and Jayapadma (Sri) 11-2, 7-11, 7-11, 11-4, 13-11; Poulami Ghatak/ Mantu Ghosh (Ind) bt Dilini Nadeesha/  Saranga De Silva (Sri) 12-10, 11-5, 11-8.