CWG 2022: Sathiyan, Harmeet star as India down Singapore 3-1, retain men's team TT title

One a Pakistani and another a Canadian, originally hailing from Pakistan. Both table tennis players of repute. Besides the words of encouragement, Fahad Khawaja (represents Pakistan) and Syed Asad Hussain (represents Canada) were intently analyzing the men's team gold medal match between India and Singapore. That's when this correspondent, unable to find a place in the choc-a-bloc media seats, went and sat next to Fahad and Asad, eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Control dekha hai Sathiyan ka (Have you seen the control of Sathiyan over his shots?) Ye jitayega India ko gold (He will help India win the gold)," exclaims Asad. "Sathiyan must have trained really hard for the competition. I am really having fun watching his game," Fahad replied. Sathiyan's "control" was top notch as he starred in India's comprehensive 3-1 win, and a successful defence of their CWG men's team title. The doubles pair of Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai began with a 13-11, 11-7, 11-5 beating of Koen Pang and Izaac Quek. Veteran Sharath Kamal, however, lost his singles encounter to Clarence Chew 11-7, 12-14, 11-3, 11-9.

But Sathiyan raised the bar in the next match, winning 10-12, 11-7, 7-11, 4-11 against Koen Pang. The balance of the tie swung in India's favour after that match. Harmeet Desai then dominated Clarence Chew for a 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 victory that gave India its fifth gold medal of 2022 CWG. It was fifth CWG gold for Indian table tennis' 'old daddy', Sharath Kamal, too, whose first appearance was at 2006 Melbourne Games. The 40-year-old also has two silver and three bronze medals from different editions of the Games.

"Last time in Gold Coast we had the same amount of pressure. This time we played against some really good teams.