2014 Commonwealth Games: India Lose to England in Men's Table Tennis Team Semifinals
India will now take on Nigeria, who lost 1-3 to Singapore, in the bronze medal match on Monday.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: July 28, 2014 10:06 am IST
India's top singles player Achanta Sharath Kamal and Harmeet Desai were tamed by an energetic Liam Pitchford as India lost the men's team table tennis semifinal 1-3 to England, here on Sunday. (Highlights)
Kamal, ranked five places above Pitchford at number 50, lost the opening singles match 4-11, 11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 6-11 to leave India trailing in the best-of-five game semifinal.
Paul Drinkhall made it 2-0 for England when he trounced Anthony Arputharaj 11-5 11-8 11-9 in the second singles.
Anthony combined with Harmeet to bring India back in the contest by winning the men's doubles 7-11 16-14, 11-8, 7-11, 13-11.
21-year-old Harmeet then took court for the do-or-die fourth match and looked down and out after losing the first two sets tamely but turned it around by winning the next two to take the match to a deciding fifth set.
However, 21-year-old Pitchford, who played exceptionally well, edged past the Indian with a final scoreline of 11-5 11-6 10-12 10-12 17-15.
India will now take on Nigeria, who lost 1-3 to Singapore, in the bronze medal match on Monday.
England will clash with Singapore for the top prize.