Raman, Xueling walk away rich

Raman, Xueling walk away rich
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Mumbai, August 20: Zhang Xueling of Singapore rallied magnificently after dropping the first two games 18-21, 22-24 to shock World number 12 and compatriot Zhao Danni 18-21, 22-24, 21-7, 21-12, 21-7 in the women's singles final of the Rs 2 lakh prize money Challenger International table tennis tournament at the Khar Gymkhana here on Sunday.

The 17-year-old Xueling lost the first game 18-21 after trailing for most part of the game. In the second, Xueling put up a better performance but still failed to finish off the game after leading 19-15. Danni did well to come back into the game after levelling the scores at 19-all and then went on to win the game on extra points.

In the third game Danni began to tire a little bit and the 55th ranked Xueling took full advantage of it. She took an early 10-3 lead and never looked back winning the game 21-7.

In the fourth game, Danni gave a semblence of a fight before losing 12-21 and in the decider it was Xueling all the way with a convincing 21-7 win to get Rs 25,000. Danni had to be content with Rs 12,500.

Anindita Chakraborty of India, who too had five wins and one loss like Xueling and Danni, had to be content with the third spot and Rs 9000 as the two Singapore girls had better game averages to their credit.

National champion Poulami Ghatak won Rs 7500 forfinishing fourth, Mouma Das Rs. 5000 for finishing fifth, NR Indu Rs 3500 for finishing sixth and Monto Ghosh Rs 2500 for finishing seventh.

In the men's singles final National champion and southpaw S Raman defeated Shivaji Datta also of India 21-13, 19-21, 21-14, 21-15. Both the players had made it to the final with five wins and a loss each.

Raman won Rs 50,000 while Datta had to be content with Rs 25,000.

India's No 1 player Raman had a good outing. He took the first game with some blistering forhand shots on either flanks to win 21-13.

In the second the youngster, Datta, attacked from the start and managed to take the second game 21-19.

However, Raman took the next two game pretty easily winning 21-14, 21-15 to romp home a winner.

Youngster Soumyadeep Roy of India, who finished third took home Rs 15,000 followed by Arup Basak in the fourth spot (Rs 10,000), Arjan Datta in the fifth (Rs 7500) and the two paddlers from Hong Kong Tang Kwok Kei (sixth -- Rs 5000) and Chu Chun Chung (seventh -- Rs 3500).

Results:
Men's Singles Final: S Raman (Ind) bt Shivaji Datta (Ind) 21-13, 19-21, 21-14, 21-15.
Women's Singles Final: Zhang Xueling (Sing) bt Zhao Danni) 18-21, 22-24, 21-7, 21-12, 21-7.