India Men Edge Slovakia to Stay Perfect at World Team Table Tennis Championships
LONDON — India’s men’s table tennis team came from behind to defeat Slovakia 3–2 in a tense Group 7 match at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships, maintaining its unbeaten start to the tournament.
The win moved India to the top of the Group 7 standings and strengthened its position ahead of its next tie against Guatemala.
Slovakia took the opening rubber when Lubomir Pistej, ranked No. 149, defeated India’s Manush Shah, ranked No. 51, in five games. Pistej won 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6 to give Slovakia an early lead.
India quickly responded through Manav Thakkar, the team’s highest-ranked player at No. 42. Thakkar produced a steady performance against Jakub Zelinka, winning 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 to level the tie at 1–1.
Slovakia moved back in front in the third rubber as Wang Yang beat Harmeet Desai 16-14, 11-5, 11-9. Wang mixed defensive control with counter-attacking precision to disrupt Desai’s rhythm and put Slovakia one win away from taking the match.
India then rallied under pressure. Thakkar returned to the table and dominated Pistej 11-3, 11-3, 11-3 to make it 2–2.
With the tie on the line, Shah recovered from his opening loss and delivered in the deciding rubber, defeating Zelinka 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 to seal India’s 3–2 victory.
India’s women’s team also remained in contention in Group 6 after beating Ukraine 3–2 in a close match earlier, keeping its hopes of topping the group alive.
Both Indian teams were scheduled to play their final group matches later Thursday, with the men facing Guatemala and the women taking on Rwanda. (Source: IANS)
