India’s top paddler Sharath Kamal stormed into the men’s singles pre-quarterfinals with a 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 victory over Takuya Jin of Japan in the World Table Tennis Contender, which commenced in Novo Mesto, Slovenia on Thursday.
In a women’s singles first-round match, Diya Parag Chitale lost to Fu Yu of Portugal 11-7, 5-11, 6-11, 10-12.
Earlier, two Indian men’s pairs — Sharath Kamal and Manav Thakkar, the top seeds, and the duo of Jeet Chandra and S. Snehit — bowed out in the first round (round of 16).
Indian results: Men: Singles (round of 32): Sharath Kamal bt Takuya Jin (Jpn) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6; Doubles (round of 16): Hiroto Shinozuka & Yuma Tanigaki (Jpn) bt Sharath Kamal & Manav Thakkar 11-7, 11-4, 10-12, 11-4; Kristian Karlsson & Mattias Falck (Swe) bt Jeet Chandra and S. Snehit 11-5, 11-2, 11-6.
Women: Singles (round of 32): Fu Yu (Por) bt Diya Parag Chitale 7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10.
