By IANS,
New Delhi : Shamini Kumaresan led the charge with an attacking display as Indian paddlers cruised past Australia after initial hiccups to sail into the semifinal of the women’s table tennis competition at the Comonwealth Games competition here Wednesday.
The Indian women came back strongly after the country’s number one player Mouma Das’s defeat in the first match to seal the tie 4-1 in the quarterfinal at the Yamuna Sports Complex.
The dimunitive Mouma dropped the first two games but drew parity by winning the next two before going down to seasoned Australian campaigner Jian Fang Lay 7-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-9 and 9-11.
With India down 0-1, Shamini Kumresan took on Miao Miao, a veteran of three Olympics.
The 29-year old Aussie took the first game, but Shamini then got into her elements executing telling smashes to take the match 4-11, 11-7, 11-8 and 11-7.
Poulomi then made short work of Vivian Zhenhua Tan 11-9, 11-4 and 11-5 to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.
Shamini was then back on court, and got the better of Australia’s top player Jian 4-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8 and 11-9 to win the tie and propel her country to the last four.
Earlier, the Indian women got a walk-over against Dominica in the prequarters.
In men’s team event, India, Nigeria, England and Singapore were given byes into the quarterfinal.