Falcons TTC in semi-finals contention after their win against Empowerji Challengers

Falcons TTC in semi-finals contention after their win against Empowerji Challengers

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Defending champions Falcons made a strong case for semi-final birth after a win against Empowerji Challengers to place them second on the points table. The Indian stars drew blanks in singles as Manav Thakkar lost a close match to Alvaro Robles while Sanil Shetty was drubbed by Simon Gauzy.

At a total of 30 points each, in the fourth series of contests, Falcons TTC faced Empowerji Challengers in New Delhi on Sunday 24th June. The contest was vital for securing a top four place and thus gaining a semi-final berth. Defending champions Falcons eased passed their opponent 15-6 to lift them into second spot and thus helping them in making a strong case for semi-finals. The win saw them reach the second spot with 45 points while challengers had to settle for fifth with 36 points.

The first match saw Matilda Ekholm beat Divya Deshpande to help her team with 3 points. However, Simon Gauzy tied it for Challengers with a win over Sanil Shetty. After the teams were locked 3-3 following two singles matches, Falcons broke away with Sanil making amends for his ordinary show in the singles by pulling off the doubles with ease in the company of the energetic Bernadette Szocs.

Last season’s MVP Liam Pitchford, maintained his unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win over Tiago Apolonia. The 49th-ranked Briton made light of the loss of the opening games to the Portuguese, placed nine rungs higher, and then called the shots to live up to his team’s expectations.

Bernadette Szocs who partnered Sanil for a win continued with her form in singles and upstaged Lee Ho Ching in straights games. Later, the 20th-ranked Hong Kong girl did prove superior to Sutirtha Mukherjee but not before dropping a game to the World No. 613.

Even though there were victories for lower-ranked players in the tie, Indian stars could not make it count from either teams. Sanil could not reproduce the magic of Friday and went down to World No. 12 Simon Gauzy, the highest-ranked player in the league this season, without a fight. The left-handed Indian could manage on 13 points during the 3-0 drubbing.

Manav, ranked second in the world among juniors and the most promising Indian kid on the block, faced 56th ranked Alvaro Robles. In the first two games, Manav ran Robles close but perished without a fight in the third.

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