LIVE CWG 2022 - Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Sharath Kamal Achanta in contention for Table Tennis Medals

What can one say after that match that hasn't already been said about the Indian legend. He finishes the 2022 Commonwealth Games with THREE Gold Medals and one Silver. Did I mention he has done this at the age of FORTY!  

ACHANTA 10 - 8 PITCHFORD (3 - 1)

I DON'T THINK IT HAS!! BUT HERE COMES THE DECISION! THE POINT GOES TO PITCHFORD!!!

There is some confusion about the score. PITCHFORD HAS THE POINT!

GOLD MEDAL POINTS!!! THREE OF THEM!!

ACHANTA 9 - 7 PITCHFORD (3 - 1)

HE FINDS THE DOWN THE LINE FOREHAND THOUGH!! TWO POINTS AWAY NOW!

ACHANTA 8 - 6 PITCHFORD (3 - 1)

ACHANTA 7 - 5 PITCHFORD (3 - 1)

An error on the backhand by Achanta gives Pitchford a reason to celebrate before he finds the angle on the forehand to reduce the deficit to just two points. 

Pitchford claims a point back on his own serve but Achanta takes the next one to keep his four point lead intact.

ACHANTA 6 - 2 PITCHFORD (3 - 1)

ACHANTA 5 - 1 PITCHFORD (3 - 1)

Achanta is just not letting him off the hook. BACK TO BACK POINTS!! 

THREE IN A ROW FOR THE INDIAN AT THE START OF THE FIFTH!! Pitchford has one back as he finally is on the board.

ACHANTA 2 - 0 PITCHFORD (3 - 1)

ACHANTA 0 - 0 PITCHFORD (3 - 1)

Achanta is just one game away now. No player has a timeout left and I should add that I was completely wrong about my timeout call. Raman's timeout was perfectly timed as Pitchford only took two points after that stoppage.

THAT IS THE GAME!!! Pitchford hits the net and the ball falls wide. 

ACHANTA 10 - 6 PITCHFORD (2 - 1)

ACHANTA 8 - 6 PITCHFORD (2 - 1)

Pitchford hits back with a point but Achanta brings out the forehand to keep his lead. 

PITCHFORD HITS ONE LONG!! ACHANTA HOLDS ONTO HIS LEAD!

ACHANTA 6 - 5 PITCHFORD (2 - 1)

ACHANTA 6 - 5 PITCHFORD (2 - 1)

WHAT A RALLY!! Achanta defends well but Pitchford is able to find the angle.

He gets two points back on the Achanta serve as we have a two point game on our hands. 

ACHANTA 6 - 2 PITCHFORD (2 - 1)

ACHANTA 5 - 1 PITCHFORD (2 - 1)

IT HAS NOT!!! BACK TO BACK POINTS FOR ACHANTA AGAIN AS HE OPENS UP A FOUR POINT LEAD!

WILL THIS TIMEOUT HELP PITCHFORD?

ACHANTA 3 - 1 PITCHFORD (2 - 1)

ACHANTA 3 - 1 PITCHFORD (2 - 1)

ACHANTA IS BACK AT IT!!! BACK TO BACK POINTS ON THE PITCHFORD SERVE!!!  

Pitchford tests the Indian's backhand and comes up big this time. He misses the next one as the scoreboard shows equal scores. 

ACHANTA 0 - 0 PITCHFORD (2 - 1)

ACHANTA 11 - 2 PITCHFORD (1 - 1)

AND HE CONVERTS THE FIRST ONE!!! GAME ON!!!

NOW HIS BACKHAND IS LONG!!! HE IS IN TROUBLE HERE! ERROR ON THE SERVICE RETURN AGAIN!! 

GAME POINTS

A quick push by the Englishman earns him a point after ages before he hits a forehand long. 

ACHANTA 7 - 1 PITCHFORD (1 - 1)

ACHANTA 5 - 1 PITCHFORD (1 - 1)

Pitchford looks to the skies for answers as Achanta counters with pace. AND ANOTHER POINT!! FOUR POINT GAME!

MAKE THAT THREE!!! He misses the next one but still has his lead. 

ACHANTA 2 - 0 PITCHFORD (1 - 1)

ACHANTA 0 - 0 PITCHFORD (1 - 1)

Achanta is speaking to Raman in an animated fashion. He has been excellent so far and had just one point gone his way in the first, he would have been up by two game.

AND HE WILL LEVEL IT ALL UP IN THE FINAL!!! 

ACHANTA 10 - 7 PITCHFORD (0 - 1)

ACHANTA 9 - 7 PITCHFORD (0 - 1)

He concedes the first point to a body smash before finding an absolute beauty to seal the point.

An unforced error by the Englishman sees the Indian take the lead. AND HE HAS DOUBLED IT!! CAN HE KEEP IT NOW?

ACHANTA 6 - 6 PITCHFORD (0 - 1)

ACHANTA 5 - 5 PITCHFORD (0 - 1)

Achanta takes the first point and gets some help from the net. However, Pitchford retrieves it before the net fails Achanta. 

WOW!! Achanta pushes the Englishman from side to side before pushing him all the way back and comes up with a down the line winner. 

Pitchford respond with an inside out forehand to level the game again.

Achanta grabs back a point before a Pitchford error levels the game again.

ACHANTA 1 - 3 PITCHFORD (0 - 1)

ACHANTA 1 - 1 PITCHFORD (0 - 1)

OH MY!!! Pitchford somehow picks up an unpickable shot from Achanta. However, he then misses an easy finish as he misses the table. He has the next point luckily.  

That is as close as you can expect. Both players had game points in that one and it was the Englishman who came out on top. 

ACHANTA 11 - 13 PITCHFORD 

ACHANTA 11 - 12 PITCHFORD 

Pitchford pushes Achanta back to gain another GAME POINT!

ACHANTA SAVES IT WITH AN INSIDE OUT FOREHAND!

ACHANTA 10 - 11 PITCHFORD 

ACHANTA 10 - 10 PITCHFORD 

A wild forehand by Achanta sees the scores level again.

A FOREHAND ERROR BY PITCHFORD GIVES ACHANTA THE FIRST GAME POINTS OF THE FINAL!

ACHANTA 9 - 9 PITCHFORD 

ACHANTA 8 - 8 PITCHFORD 

GOOD GOD!! Service error by Achanta. AND WE ARE LEVEL AGAIN!

AND HE LEADS!! THE BACKHAND DOWN THE LINE IS TOO HOT FOR PITCHFORD TO HANDLE! 

AND AN ERROR BY PITCHFORD!! TWO POINT LEAD AGAIN!! CAN ACHANTA MAKE IT COUNT THIS TIME?

Another error by Achanta sees Pitchford take the lead but the Indian veteran forces an error to level proceedings again.

ACHANTA 5 - 5 PITCHFORD 

ACHANTA 5 - 3 PITCHFORD 

ACHANTA RACES AHEAD THIS TIME!!! TWO POINT LEAD FOR THE INDIAN!

The first six points have been shared as we head into the first towel break.

GOLD MEDAL MATCH

HOW HE HAS DONE THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO HIS GREATNESS. HE SAW DRINKHALL COME BACK FROM BEING THREE GAMES DOWN TO LEVEL IT UP. IN THE DECIDER, HE SAW DRINKHALL COME BACK FROM BEING 7-1 DOWN TO TAKE THE LEAD. HE SAW THE CROWD CELEBRATE EVERY POINT AS IF IT WAS THE LAST POINT THEY WOULD EVER SEE. BUT AT THE END, HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP HIS HEAD AND SEE THE MATCH OUT TO LAND HIMSELF A BRONZE MEDAL!

HE HAS DONE IT!!! 

SATHIYAN 10 - 9 DRINKHALL (3 - 3)

BRONZE MEDAL POINT TO SATHIYAN!!

SATHIYAN 9 - 9 DRINKHALL (3 - 3)

SATHIYAN 8 - 9 DRINKHALL (3 - 3)

All about composure now. DRINKHALL LEADS!!

OH NO!!! ONE POINT GAME AFTER SATHIYAN AGAIN FAILS TO KEEP THE BALL ON THE TABLE! 

AND WE ARE LEVEL!!! 

GREAT DEFENCE BY DRINKHALL AGAIN BUT SATHIYAN COMES AWAY WITH THE POINT!!

BUT AN ERROR BY THE INDIAN SEES THE LEAD CUT BACK TO TWO POINTS!

OH MY!!! THE ENGLISHMAN DOES NOT KNOW WHEN TO GIVE UP!! BACK WITHIN THREE NOW!! 

AN INSIDE OUT FOREHAND BY DRINKHALL REDUCES THE LEAD TO JUST TWO POINTS!!

He gets a couple back to bring the deficit down to four points now.

SATHIYAN 7 - 1 DRINKHALL (3 - 3)

SIX POINT GAME!

SATHIYAN 5 - 1 DRINKHALL (3 - 3)

The Englishman ups the tempo in a jiffy to draw an error from the Indian. BUT SATHIYAN GETS SOME LUCK FROM THE NET TO RESTORE HIS FOUR POINT LEAD!

SATHIYAN 4 - 0 DRINKHALL (3 - 3)

SATHIYAN 2 - 0 DRINKHALL (3 - 3)

Like the last two games, Sathiyan has taken the first point again. That is a mishit from the Englishman

Sathiyan has to find a way to get past Drinkhall and this rowdy English crowd. This will be quite a task now. 

SATHIYAN 10 - 12 DRINKHALL (3 - 2)

SATHIYAN 10 - 11 DRINKHALL (3 - 2)

WHAT A RALLY!! HOW DID DRINKHALL STAY IN THAT ONE BEFORE GETTING AN ERROR FROM SATHIYAN!! HE CELEBRATES AS IF HE HAS WON THE GOLD MEDAL AT THE OLYMPICS!! GAME POINT NUMBER TWO!

ERROR BY DRINKHALL ON A RALLY OF CHOPS!!! GAME ON!!

SATHIYAN 9 - 10 DRINKHALL (3 - 2)

SATHIYAN 9 - 9 DRINKHALL (3 - 2)

AND WE ARE BACK LEVEL!!! A WONDERFUL DOWN THE BACKHAND HELPS THE INDIAN LEVEL THE GAME!!! THIS IS SOME EFFORT BY THE INDIAN! 

SATHIYAN 8 - 9 DRINKHALL (3 - 2)

AGAIN DRINKHALL SHOWS GREAT DEFENSIVE SKILLS BUT SATHIYAN OVERPOWERS HIM EVENTUALLY!!! 

SATHIYAN 7 - 9 DRINKHALL (3 - 2)

Sathiyan takes the first point off the Drinkhall serve before doubling down with a backhand into the body! TWO POINTS BETWEEN THEM NOW!

OH NO!! THAT LOOKED LIKE A PRESSURE COST HIM THAT POINT!! Sathiyan has a simple smash opportunity and he hits the net. Still a four point game though as Drinkhall commits the error. 

SATHIYAN 4 - 8 DRINKHALL (3 - 2)

SATHIYAN 4 - 6 DRINKHALL (3 - 2)

The cross court forehand again wins Drinkhall the point. THIS IS A CARBON COPY!! TWO POINT LEAD!

Sathiyan with the backhand error into the net now. WHAT A RALLY!! Drinkhall drops back and picks up a bunch of smashes before Sathiyan finds the winner down the line. Drinkhall gives him a smile.  

SATHIYAN 3 - 3 DRINKHALL (3 - 2)

SATHIYAN 1 - 3 DRINKHALL (3 - 2)

Drinkhall gets another one in as Sathiyan hits his backhand wide. AND NOW LONG!!! 

Sathiyan takes the first point but Drinkhall finds the angle on the cross court forehand to level the score.

SATHIYAN 0 - 0 DRINKHALL (3 - 2)

SATHIYAN 9 - 11 DRINKHALL (3 - 1)

AND DRINKHALL CONVERTS!!! 

ADVATAGE DRINKHALL!!

SATHIYAN 9 - 9 DRINKHALL (3 - 1)

THE NEXT POINT IS KEY NOW!

SATHIYAN 9 - 7 DRINKHALL (3 - 1)

SATHIYAN 7 - 7 DRINKHALL (3 - 1)

GREAT COUNTER PLAY BY SATHIYAN! He turns defence into attack with precision to halve the deficit. Drinkhall levels it all up as he hits his forehand long.

Drinkhall takes the lead this time and some quick play down the line allows him to double it. 

SATHIYAN 5 - 5 DRINKHALL (3 - 1)

SATHIYAN 4 - 4 DRINKHALL (3 - 1)

After all of that, an unforced error by Drinkhall levels the score. 

Drinkhall calls the jury and argues his case. He had kicked the ball away and he makes the case that he was still ready to serve on time. 

SATHIYAN 3 - 4 DRINKHALL (3 - 1)

Drinkhall receives a talking to and a yellow card for wasting time.

SATHIYAN 2- 4 DRINKHALL (3 - 1)

SATHIYAN 1- 3 DRINKHALL (3 - 1)

Drinkhall's defence has helped him open up a two point lead now. 

THIS TIME IT IS SATHIYAN WHO HAS THE FIRST POINT! The edge of the table helped him out. Drinkhall, though, responds with a huge backhand crosscourt.

SATHIYAN 8 - 11 DRINKHALL (3 - 0)

SATHIYAN 8 - 10 DRINKHALL (3 - 0)

SATHIYAN REDUCES THE DEFICIT TO JUST ONE WITH A BRILLIANT DOWN THE LINE BACKHAND SHOT! But the net assists Drinkhall as the ball bounces long after hitting the tape. GAME POINTS!

Sathiyan slows down the tempo and is able to get an error from Drinkhall. AND ANOTHER ONE!! TWO POINT GAME!!

SATHIYAN 5 - 9 DRINKHALL (3 - 0)

SATHIYAN 5 - 7 DRINKHALL (3 - 0)

AND ANOTHER ONE!! This time it is a forehand to the body that Sathiyan cannot keep in play. WOW!! INSIDE OUT FOREHAND WINNER THIS TIME!! SATHIYAN TRAILS BY TWO NOW!

This time it is Drinkhall who pushes the Indian back before finding the winner off the backhand. AND AGAIN!!! THIS TIME IT IS THE DOWN THE LINE THAT LEVELS THE SCORE!

SATHIYAN 5 - 3 DRINKHALL (3 - 0)

SATHIYAN 3 - 3 DRINKHALL (3 - 0)

Drinkhall takes the lead on the Sathiyan serve but hits his next service return long. 

BUT WE ARE LEVEL!! Errors are costing Drinkhall here.

SATHIYAN 0 - 2 DRINKHALL (3 - 0)

SATHIYAN 11 - 5 DRINKHALL (2 - 0)

AND HE SEALS IT!!! JUST ONE GAME AWAY NOW!

GAME POINTS!

SATHIYAN 9 - 5 DRINKHALL (2 - 0)

SATHIYAN 8 - 4 DRINKHALL (2 - 0)

Again Sathiyan has the first point. Can he extend his lead. An error from Drinkhall allows him to do just that! FOUR POINT GAME!

Will the timeout stop the Drinkhall comeback? YES IT WILL!! 

SATHIYAN 5 - 4 DRINKHALL (2 - 0)

SATHIYAN 5 - 4 DRINKHALL (2 - 0)

Error on the service return by Sathiyan.

A mishit by Sathiyan finally breaks the streak. ANOTHER ONE FOR DRINKHALL!! TWO POINT GAME NOW!

SATHIYAN 5 - 1 DRINKHALL (2 - 0)

SATHIYAN 4 - 1 DRINKHALL (2 - 0)

ANOTHER ONE FOR INDIA!!! AND AS PREDICTED, TIMEOUT CALLED BY EVANS!

Sathiyan pushes Drinkhall back and the latter can't keep his return on the table. Another error by Drinkhall. I sense a timeout coming.

SATHIYAN 1 - 1 DRINKHALL (2 - 0)

SATHIYAN 0 - 0 DRINKHALL (2 - 0)

I am surprised the English did not opt for a timeout at 7-3 in the game. They usually tend to take their timeouts early if they are in trouble.

AND HE WILL TAKE HIS NINTH CONSECUTIVE POINT TO SEAL GAME NUMBER TWO!

SATHIYAN 10 - 3 DRINKHALL (1 - 0)

SATHIYAN 9 - 3 DRINKHALL (1 - 0)

AGAIN!! He ups the tempo and Drinkhall commits the error. ANOTHER WILD SHOT BY DRINKHALL!! SIX POINT GAME NOW!

Drinkhall finds the angle this time but Sathiyan uses his speed to keep it in play and the Englishman who commits the error. AND ANOTHER ONE!!

SATHIYAN 5 - 3 DRINKHALL (1 - 0)

SATHIYAN 3 - 3 DRINKHALL (1 - 0)

Drinkhall again dominates a rally to take the lead again. BUT AGAIN SATHIYAN PULLS OFF THE POINT OFF A GREAT ATTACKING RALLY!

Drinkhall again takes the lead but Sathiyan gets the luck of the egde to level things again.

SATHIYAN 1 - 1 DRINKHALL (1 - 0)

SATHIYAN 11 - 9 DRINKHALL

Drinkhall defends well despite being pushed back by Sathiyan's attack and saves one game point. NOT THIS TIME!!! SATHIYAN HAS THE FIRST GAME IN THE BAG!

NOW HE LEADS!! Drinkhall's push goes out off the net. AND SATHIYAN GETS SOME MORE LUCK AS THE BALL GOES OFF THE EDGE!!! GAME POINTS!

SATHIYAN 8 - 8 DRINKHALL

SATHIYAN 6 - 8 DRINKHALL

He finally misses on the forehand as Sathiyan is able to reduce the lead. The Indian though commits an unforced error to let the Englishman keep his lead intact.

Again he attacks the Sathiyan backhand to win a point. AND AGAIN!! FIVE IN A ROW FOR THE ENGLISHMAN! 

SATHIYAN 5 - 5 DRINKHALL

SATHIYAN 5 - 3 DRINKHALL

Yes he can! An error from Drinkhall is followed by one from the Indian but he still has a two point lead. 

Sathiyan responds with back to back points to take the lead. Can he keep it now?

SATHIYAN 2 - 2 DRINKHALL

SATHIYAN 1 - 1 DRINKHALL

Drinkhall starts off with a quick winner but Sathiyan levels the game by winning a point on this backhand.

AND WE ARE OFF!!! Drinkhall to serve!

SATHIYAN vs DRINKHALL

SATHIYAN vs DRINKHALL

Here we go! We will start with the bronze medal game.