New Delhi: Propelled by striker Akash Singh, India came back from the brink of despair to defeat Singapore 3-2 in what was undoubtedly one of the most explosive matches in SuperSeries history at ISTAF SuperSeries INDIA 2013/14.
No team has ever come back from two sets down since the inaugural sepaktakraw tournament in 2011/2012, but India proved a class apart when they won 14-16, 11-15, 15-9, 18-16, 15-7 in 97 amazing minutes at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex here today.
Their comeback began in the fourth, when 8-12 down and urged on by a vocal home crowd, they clawed their way back and eventually clinched the set. The first regu of Akash, Sandeep Kumar and captain G. Jiteshor Sharma then raced to a 7-2 lead and never looked back, despite Singapore’s Muhammad Magrib, Khairul Anwar and Farhan Aman trying their best to rally.
“This is the most exciting match I’ve ever been involved in,” said an almost speechless Hemraj, India’s chief coach. “When my boys were two sets down, I told them to not lose heart and just play their natural game and they turned the whole match around.”
If there was a Man of the Match, all fingers would point to 17-year-old Akash, who started slow but then took off like a bullet to contribute an amazing 32 of India’s 33 spikes.
“There are so many talented sepaktakraw players in India today, but Akash is the most dynamic player I have seen,” said Hemraj.
Other opening day matches saw second seeds Malaysia defeating a spirited United States 15-9, 15-9, 15-4 in Group B. In Group C, third seeds South Korea overcame Brunei 3-0, 15-6, 15-10, 15-6.
The men’s competition was reduced to 10 teams when Myanmar was declared a no-show, which means that Group A now comprises Japan and defending champions Thailand. Both teams were awarded an automatic 3-0 win against Myanmar and will face one another twice in the first round. Myanmar, meanwhile, was placed 11th in the competition.
In the women’s competition, fourth seeds India failed to duplicate their counterpart’s success when the team of first-time internationals lost 0-3 to Indonesia. Kh. Bijeta Chamu, Chaouba Devi and Kh. Omita Devi put on a strong performance but fell 10-15, 10-15, 8-15 to Indonesia, who had stamped their superiority earlier in the day by defeating South Korea 15-4, 15-11, 15-8.
In other matches, top seeds and defending champions Thailand defeated Japan 15-3, 15-4, 15-10 in their Group B opening match while Indonesia defeated Korea 15-4, 15-11, 15-8 in Group A.
ISTAF SuperSeries INDIA 2013/14, which ends September 1, kicks-off this year’s ISTAF SuperSeries 2013/14 season. The New Delhi tournament is followed by ISTAF SuperSeries THAILAND 2013/14 in Bangkok from September 26-29 followed by ISTAF SuperSeries MALAYSIA 2013/14 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from October 31 to November 3.
Held for the first time in India and the first time outside Southeast Asia, ISTAF SuperSeries is created by Asia Sports Ventures (ASV) and supported by local organisers Sepaktakraw Federation of India (STFI).
* Note to editor: A recap of all today’s matches not played at Press time, including the Indian women’s team’s match against Vietnam at 7.45pm, will be included in tomorrow’s report.
Results:
Men’s:
Group D: India bt Singapore 3-2 (14-16, 11-15, 15-9, 18-16, 15-7)
Group A: Thailand bt Myanmar 3-0 (walkover)
Group B: Malaysia bt USA 3-0 (15-9, 15-9, 15-4)
Group C: South Korea bt Brunei 3-0 (15-6, 15-10, 15-6)
Women’s:
Group A: Indonesia bt India 3-0 (10-15, 10-15, 8-15); Indonesia bt South Korea 3-0 (15-4, 15-11, 15-8)
Group B: Thailand bt Japan 3-0 (15-3, 15-4, 15-10)
August 30 Fixtures (Round One):
Men’s: Indonesia vs South Korea; Iran vs Malaysia; Singapore vs India; Japan vs Thailand
Women’s: Malaysia vs Japan; Vietnam vs Indonesia; South Korea vs India