New Delhi: India’s Divya Deshpande had to content herself with the runners-up trophy at the after she lost to Sara Ramirez of Spain in the finals of the Egypt Open in Cairo.
Divya who had earlier created history by becoming first Indian women paddler to make it to the finals of the World Pro Tour went down the Spaniard 1-4.
Divya began well against No. 1 seed at this ITTF Euro Africa Circuit event, but could not sustain the pace set by her opponent, who is ranked 88 in the world, as the Indian went down 11-9, 5-11, 7-11, 8-11, 7-11. But the Pune girl had her moments during the final, particularly when she managed to catch the Spaniard on the wrong foot in the in the last three games.
However, the superiority of the Spaniard in backhand jabs and scorching smashes off the forehand brooked little challenge from the Indian.
Earlier, Divya who lost to Galila of Egypt in stage 1 qualification, finished No. 2 in the group to make it to the main draw where she first beat Dina Meshref, also from Egypt, 12-10, 11-9, 8-11,6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 14-12 to qualify for the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, she accounted for compatriot K. Shamini 9-11, 16-18, 11-9, 12-10, 16-14, 11-4 and then defeated Hungarian Rita Kertai, ranked 212 in the world, 9-11, 20-18, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9 in an interesting contest t'hat went to the wire.
Apart from Shamini, the other Indian girl to bow out in the quarterfinals was Poulomi Ghatak. The reigning national champion had a bad day in office like the men paddlers—Soumyadeep Sanil Shetty, Jubin Kumar and G. Sathiyan—all of whom could not go beyond the round of 16.
But then after strings of disappointment, India had something to cheer about when G. Sathiyan downed Mohammed Shouman of Egypt 11-8, 11-5, 11-7, 6-11, 10-12, 11-7 in the final to win the Under-21 boys singles title.
Sathiyan, who was seeded No. 2 here justified his billing and became the second Indian after Harmeet Desai to win the U-21 boys singles title.
By Indian Sports News Network