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Paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal qualifies for Tokyo Games
Updated On: 19 March, 2021 07:51 AM IST | Doha | PTI
Kamal had lost his opening match 9-11, 13-15, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10, 9-11, 8-11 to compatriot Gnansekaran Sathiyan. The win over Rameez ensured at least a second-place finish for Kamal and it was enough to secure a spot in the delayed Games, scheduled to begin in July. One quota is awarded to the highest-ranked second-placed player in the event.
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Achanta Sharath Kamal. Pic/PTI
The seasoned Achanta Sharath Kamal on Thursday became the first Indian paddler to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games after a dominant win over Pakistan`s Muhammad Rameez at the Asian Olympic Qualification tournament in Doha. The veteran Indian thrashed Rameez 11-4, 11-1, 11-5, 11-4 in little over 22 minutes in the second men`s singles round-robin match in the South Asia group. India`s second-highest-ranked female player Sutirtha Mukherjee also qualified for the Games after a 4-2 (7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 4-11, 11-5, 11-4) win against her top-ranked Indian compatriot Manika Batra. Despite her defeat against Sutirtha, Manika is also set to make the cut because of her ranking.
Kamal had lost his opening match 9-11, 13-15, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10, 9-11, 8-11 to compatriot Gnansekaran Sathiyan. The win over Rameez ensured at least a second-place finish for Kamal and it was enough to secure a spot in the delayed Games, scheduled to begin in July. One quota is awarded to the highest-ranked second-placed player in the event. Sharath being the top-ranked player in the group, secured the berth under the Asian quota. It will be Kamal`s fourth appearance at the Olympic Games. "It was a good match against Sathiyan but I made some errors and he capitalised on them to win the match. I was a bit nervous before playing against Rameez as I had never faced him before. "But after the first few games I was confident that my strategy was working and I executed it well to maintain control," the world number Sharath said. The 38-year-old Sharath said considering the tumultuous 2020, it`s a big relief.
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