JOIN USSoumyajit Ghosh and Ankita Das booked their London Olympics berths on Sunday in the Asian Olympic Qualification table tennis tournament in Hong Kong, but it was heartbreak for Achanta Sharath Kamal.
For Ghosh and Ankita, who both hail from Siliguri, the berths came via the continental quotas, after they topped from the South Asian region. Ghosh defeated Anthony Amal Raj 4-0 (12-10, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7) and Ankita downed K Shamini 4-3 (8-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-13, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8) to clinch the two places for India.
Kamal, who earlier lost to Wu Chi-Chi of Taipei 9-11, 9-11, 7-11, 11-2, 8-11, had to take on Amal Raj to make progress and meet Ghosh, who had won against Vietnam’s Tran Tuan Quynh. But it was Amal Raj who defeated Sharath 4-3 (9-11, 12-10, 11-13, 12-10, 4-11, 11-9, 11-3) to prolong his wait.
TTFI secretary Dhanraj Choudhary said Sharath still had a very good chance of qualifying for the London Games at Doha where he would participate in the World Qualification championships. “With all top players from Asia having already made the grade at Hong Kong, Sharath’s chances are very good at Doha. I am sure, he will definitely qualify,” he said.
The 19-year-old Ghosh said it was his dream to appear on the biggest of all stages. “I have realised my dream today and will prepare well for the Olympics,” said the Siliguri boy.
Ankita also became the youngest Indian girl to qualify for Olympics.