India's table tennis stalwart Sharath Kamal suffered a disappointing defeat in the men's singles round of 64 at the Paris Olympics. The 42-year-old, making his fifth Olympic appearance, was outplayed by Deni Kozul of Slovenia, losing 2-4.
Sharath Kamal's early exit at Paris Olympics
The match, which lasted 53 minutes, saw Kamal, ranked 40th in the world, face an opponent placed 86 positions lower. Despite winning a closely contested first game, the veteran Indian was unable to maintain his momentum, losing the next three games. A determined Kamal fought back to level the match at 2-2, but ultimately succumbed to Kozul in a decisive fifth game.
Sreeja Akula Marches On
India's top-ranked table tennis player, Sreeja Akula, made a strong start to her Olympic campaign. She secured a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Sweden's Christina Kallberg in the round of 64. Sreeja, who has etched her name in history as the first Indian paddler to win a WTT Contender singles title, dominated the match, finishing with an 11-4, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 scoreline in just 30 minutes.
While the Indian secured the first set comfortably, Kallberg displayed increased tenacity in the following sets. The third set was particularly intense, with both players locked in a tight battle until Sreeja managed to pull ahead and clinch the set.
Sreeja Akula held a commanding 9-3 lead in the fourth set, seemingly on course for a swift victory. However, Kallberg displayed resilience, narrowing the gap to 9-7 with a combination of unforced errors from Sreeja and effective smashes. The Swede continued to push, reducing the deficit to 10-8. Ultimately, a decisive forehand by Sreeja secured her win and a place in the next round.
Manika Batra Dominates
In another match of the day, Manika Batra showcased her dominance with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Great Britain's Hursey Anna in the Women's Round of 64. Batra's superior skills were evident throughout the 32-minute match.
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