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India’s top singles player Achanta Sharath Kamal and Harmeet Desai were tamed by an energetic Liam Pitchford as India lost the men’s team table tennis semi-final 1-3 to England, here on Sunday.
Kamal, ranked five places above Pitchford at number 50, lost the opening singles match 4-11, 11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 6-11 to leave India trailing in the best-of-five game semi-final.
Paul Drinkhall made it 2-0 for England when he trounced Anthony Arputharaj 11-5 11-8 11-9 in the second singles.
Anthony combined with Harmeet to bring India back in the contest by winning the men’s doubles 7-11 16-14, 11-8, 7-11, 13-11.
21-year-old Harmeet then took court for the do-or-die fourth match and looked down and out after losing the first two sets tamely but turned it around by winning the next two to take to deciding fifth set.
However, 21-year-old Pitchford, who played exceptionally well, edged past the Indian with a final scoreline of 11-5 11-6 10-12 10-12 17-15.
India will now take on Nigeria, who lost 1-3 to Singapore, in the bronze medal match tomorrow.
England will clash with Singapore for the top prize.
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