Singapore wins table tennis mixed doubles gold
Singapore added another gold medal to their treasure chest in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Second seeds Yang Zi and Wang Yuegu defeated top seeds Gao Ning and Feng Tianwei in an all-Singapore final in the mixed doubles table tennis event on Tuesday.
Yang and Wang took the first two sets 11-6 before wrapping up the match 11-7.
Wang praised her partner after the match. "Yang Zi played a crucial role in our match today. He was fantastic," she said.
England's Paul Drinkhall and Joanna Parker took the bronze.
It was a productive day for Wang, who also reached the semi-finals of the women's singles event along with compatriots Feng, Yu Mengyu and Sun Beibei.
Wang swept Malaysian Ng Sock Khim 4-0 while Feng blanked another Malaysian Beh Lee Wei 4-0. Yu beat Australian Vivian Zhenzua Tan 4-1 while Sun upset compatriot Li Jiawei 4-3. The seven-set marathon match between Sun and Li proved to be the most exciting
match of the day.
In the women's doubles quarterfinals, Feng and Wang teamed up to oust India's Madhurika Suhas Patkar and Shamini Kumaresan 3-1. Also reaching the semi-finals were the Indian pair of Poulomi Ghatak and Mouma Das, who sent home Australians Jian Fang Lay and
Miao Miao 3-2.
In other matches, Li and Sun walloped the Malaysian duo of Beh and Ng 3-0 while Australians Tan and Peri Campbell-Innes defeated New Zealand's Yang Sun and Jenny Hung 3-1.
In the men's singles, third-ranked Yang Zi edged Drinkhall 4-3 while top seed Gao crushed India's Amalraj Anthony Arputharaj 4-1 to reach the semi-finals.
Local bets Soumyadeep Roy and Sharath Kamal Achanta completed the final four roster by posting 4-1 victories over Singaporeans Cai Xiaoli and Ma Liang, respectively.
Roy was happy to break the Singaporean dominance in the sport.
"The game has changed a lot now, It's all about stamina, fitness and power. I think I was good in all of these." said the Indian, who underwent knee surgery last year.
In the men's doubles, Gao and Yang Zi downed local bets Roy and Arputhararaj 3-0 to reach the medal round.
Also reaching the last four were the English pair of Andrew Baggaley and Liam Pitchford, who prevailed over Cai and Ma 3-1.
Achanta and Subhajit Saha conquered Nigeria's Seun Ajetunmobi and Quadri Akinade Aruna 3-1 while Australians William Henzell and Robert Frank eliminated another Nigerian tandem Monday Merotohun and Olanrewaju Babatun Jegede 3-2.
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