Singapore Smash TT: India’s Sharath Kamal in quarterfinals

New Delhi (Uttam Hindu News): Top Indian paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal reached the quarterfinals of the Singapore Smash table tennis tournament with a 3-0 win over Egypt’s Omar Assar in the men’s singles round-16 in Singapore on Thursday. Sharath entered the next round by winning the pre-quarterfinal match 11-4, 11-8, 12-10. World number 88 player Sharath dominated the game from the beginning with his aggressive approach and did not give any chance to world number 22 player Umar. Her trademark forehand topspin and backhand whiplash from behind the table were in full flow in all three games.

Sharath was in trouble after going 4-8 down in the third game, but he managed to rally. The Indian player hit a brilliant backhand whiplash on the line winner at 8-8. Sharath then hit a strong forehand down-the-line winner at 10-10. Subsequently, Umar’s return found the net, paving the way for Sharath to advance to the quarter-finals.

Earlier, Commonwealth Games gold medalist Sharath entered the Singapore Smash for the first time after an impressive win over World No. 13 Darko Jorgic with a scoreline of 3-1 (8-11, 11-6, 11-8 11-9) on Wednesday. Entered the Round of 16. Sharath is the lowest ranked men’s singles paddler. He will next face the winner of the match between France’s Felix Lebrun and Sweden’s Christian Carlsson. In the previous two editions of the Singapore Smash, Sharath had lost in the first round.