Table tennis: Fine start for Pakistan in world championship

Meanwhile, women’s trio of Rahila Kashif, Shabnam Bilal and Maliha Khurseed won their semifinal fixture against Laos

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s men’s table tennis team, after a fine start in the second stage of the World Team Table Tennis Championship, moved into the next round as they defeated Jamaica 3-0 in their 73-80 position tie at Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

In the first game, Pakistan’s top player Asim Qureshi defeated Jamaica’s Michael Hyatt 3-0 11-8, 11-8 and 11-9 in a 3-0 win. Ali Sajjad Faisal doubled his team’s lead by registering a fine 3-0 win against Kane Watson with sets of 14-12, 13-11 and 11-7.

The third player, Syed Shujaat Ali, completed the rout with a 3-2 triumph over Mark Phillip in a close 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11 and 11-5 win.

Pakistan’s men will now face Togo for the 73-74 position round on Saturday. Togo set up a clash with Pakistan after beating Panama 3-1.

Meanwhile, Pakistan women’s trio of Rahila Kashif, Shabnam Bilal and Maliha Khurseed won their semifinal fixture of 69-72 position against Laos 3-2 to move into the next round and set a clash with Mongolia for the 69-70 position match in their third division second stage fixtures.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2016.

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