Tokyo: India's women bowed out of the World Team Table Tennis championships after they lost 1-3 against Brazil in the quarter-finals here on Saturday.
After a brilliant performance in group events of Stage 1 in second division, the Indian girls were expected to give some fight in the knockout stage, but except for Manika Batra, none of the other girls could withstand the pressure built by the Brazilians.
India did not have an ideal start against Brazil. K Shamini, who had been playing well, was unable to come to terms against Gui Lin, who made most of her rival's mistakes at crucial junctions. Although Shamini won two games, she ultimately lost 8-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 7-11.
However, Manika, who is in the best form of her life, brushed aside the pressure and restored parity by beating Ligia Silva 13-11, 7-11, 11-4, 12-10. Playing an attacking game, Manika kept pushing Silva to the brink.
Ankita lost her singles to Caroline Kumahara 4-11, 8-11, 11-7, 6-11 without putting up much fight. Once again, the pressure was back on Manika, who had to play her reverse singles against Brazil's No. 1 player Gui Lin.
The Indian could not sustain the pace generated by Lin and succumbed to her tricks 12-14, 7-11, 12-10, 5-11.
Coach Bhawani Mukherjee applauded Manika's performance in the championships but rued the overall chance of the team to make it to the semi-finals.
"I would have wanted them to make it to the semifinals at least. Though that was not to be, we are in a happy frame of mind. Now we will look ahead to the CWG at Glasgow before working on the Asian Games at Incheon," said Mukherjee.
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