Asian Games: Indian Paddlers Optimistic For Golden Feat In Guangzhou

New Delhi, India (AHN) - India’s table tennis squad is gearing up for a tough event at the Asian Games, but is expected to carry the momentum from its solid performance in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games.

In this year’s Delhi Games, the Indian paddlers gave the home crowd proud moments by bagging five medals, including the men’s doubles gold.
India’s table tennis coach Massimo Constantini, however, is conscious of the tougher challenge in the Asian Games with China and Korea participating there.
"Competing against the players in the world will not be easy. The team is improving constantly. The performance in Delhi was highly satisfying,” Constantini told The Times of India. “Now lets see how the players fare in China."
Constantini, along with former international player Kamlesh Mehta, will accompany the Indians during the November 12-27 event at Guangzhou, China.
India’s 10-member table tennis squad will be bannered by Olympian Achanta Sharath Kamal.
World No. 40 Sharath Kamal will lead the men’s charge, while reigning national champion Poulomi Ghatak and Mouma Das, who captured the doubles’ bronze in the Delhi Games, will headline the women’s side.
Young Sanil Shetty, who replaced defensive player Abhishek Ravichandran in the men’s team, will be the lone new face to be featured in the Indian squad.
Also included in the men’s team are former national champion Subhajit Saha, Soumyadeep Roy and Anthony Amalraj. Sourav Chakraborty and Ravichandran Abhishek were named as reserves.
Also expected to carry the hopes of the women’s paddlers Kumaresan Shamini, Madhurika Patkar and Mamta Prabhu. The Indian women will have Olympian Neha Aggarwal and Pooja Sahasrabudhe in reserve roles.
The Indian paddlers are slated to undergo a 10-day training camp in NIS Patiala starting on Nov. 1.