Commonwealth Games 2022: India men, women have flying starts in table tennis

BOTH India's men's and women's table tennis teams on Friday (29) started off their campaigns at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, the UK, with a bang, defeating their respective opponents in the groups by an identical margin of 3-0.

In the women's section, India defeated South Africa while the men's team routed Barbados.

The doubles team of Sreeja Akula and Reeth Tennison started off the proceedings for India against the duo of Lailaa Edwards and Danisha Jayavant Patel. The Indians put on a dominating performance against their opponent, winning the first tie within the first three games 11-7, 11-7, 11-5. India had a 1-0 lead in the match and then came the star player Manika Batra. She was squaring off against Mushfiquh Kalam.

Batra completely dominated her opponent and won the tie 11-5, 11-3, 11-2 to give India a 2-0 lead.

In the third match, Sreeja Akula was in action against Danisha Jayavant Patel. South Africa's miserable show continued in this tie as well as Patel lost it 11-5, 11-3, 11-6.

The women's team will next play Fiji.

Men's team thrashes Barbados

In the men's category, India's doubles team of Harmeet Desai and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran beat Kevin Farley and Tyrese Knight 11-9, 11-9, 11-4. 

In the second encounter, star player Achanta Sharath Kamal defeated Ramon Maxwell 11-5, 11-3, 11-3.

The third game was also a lop-sided affair with Sathiyan Gnanasekaran thrashing Tyrese Knight 11-4, 11-4, 11-5.

The Indian men will next play Singapore.