ndia’s women’s table tennis team fell one victory short of securing an Asian Games medal after North Korea swept the Indian side 3-0 in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. The defeat ended a campaign in which the young Indian squad had earlier overcome Singapore and Thailand.
North Korea took control immediately, with Kim Kum Yong defeating Sreeja Akula 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 in the opening match. Pyon Song Gyong then beat Yashaswini Ghorpade 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 before Cha Su Yong completed the sweep with an 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 victory over Diya Chitale.
India had reached the last eight after a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Thailand in the Round of 16. Trailing 2-1, Ghorpade defeated Orawan Paranang in straight games before Akula beat Suthasini Sawettabut 3-1 in the deciding match. The result also reversed India’s defeat to Thailand at the same stage of the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Ghorpade, making her Asian Games debut, emerged as one of India’s leading performers during the team competition. The 21-year-old won both of her matches against Singapore and played a crucial role against Thailand. India coach Massimo Costantini said her performances helped build confidence within the squad as it progressed through the tournament.
India competed without Manika Batra, the country’s highest-ranked women’s player, who was not selected for the squad. Despite missing out on a medal, the women improved on their previous Asian Games performance by reaching the quarter-finals.
India’s men, meanwhile, were eliminated in the Round of 16 by South Korea, 3-0. Harmeet Desai, Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar all had opportunities in their respective matches but were unable to convert them, bringing India’s men’s team campaign to an end.
