ITTF Mixed Team World Cup: India Faces Defeat Against Host Nation China in Second Group Match
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Chengdu, Dec 2 (NationPress) India has endured its second consecutive defeat in the group stage of the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup, suffering a comprehensive 8-0 loss to the host nation, China, on Monday.
In the opening match of Group 1 on Sunday, the Indian contingent, lacking experienced players such as Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Sharath Kamal, and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, fell short against the United States with a score of 3-8.
Currently, India finds itself at the bottom of the group standings, trailing behind the top seeds China, Australia, and the USA, following two consecutive losses.
The top two teams from the group will qualify for the second stage of the competition after the first stage concludes.
In the initial mixed doubles match, India’s Jeet Chandra and Pritha Vartikar suffered a defeat, losing 0-3 (8-11, 2-11, 2-11) to Kuai Man and Lin Shidong, who is ranked world No. 2 in singles.
In the women’s singles bout, world No. 88 Yashaswini Ghorpade was defeated 0-3 by Wang Yidi, who ranks third in the WTT standings (4-11, 3-11, 8-11).
The men’s singles match concluded with Snehit Suravajjula trailing 0-2 (5-11, 9-11) against world No. 1 Wang Chuqin, which brought an end to the tie. According to the tournament structure, the first team to secure eight game victories wins the tie.
According to the tournament format, each rubber, whether singles or doubles, is played as a best-of-three games. The first team to achieve eight game victories clinches the overall team match.
India has been placed in Group 1 during the first stage of the tournament, alongside the reigning champions and top seeds China, Australia, and the USA. The top two teams from this round-robin stage will progress to the second stage of the competition.
India is set to compete against Australia in their third and final group match on Tuesday.
This marks the second edition of the tournament; the inaugural event was also hosted in Chengdu last year, where China emerged as the champions, while India was unable to advance past the first stage.
