Mumbai’s up and coming paddler Diya Chitale continued with her fine showing by adding the cadet girls’ singles silver medal to the team gold medal she had won with teammate Anusha Kutumbale in the Belgium Junior and Cadet Open Table Tennis Championship, reported PTI.
The 14-year-old, who had played a crucial role by winning both her singles matches, which helped India to the gold medal victory in the cadet girls’ team championship, carried that consistent form to the singles event in the tournament, which is part of the ITTF World Junior Circuit.
The third seeded Diya put up a gallant performance and enjoyed an excellent run to the final, before going down fighting to top seed Amy Wang of the USA in four games in the title clash.
The energetic Mumbai lass pocketed the opening game 11-8 to grab the initiative. But, somehow, she was unable to keep up the momentum in the second which she lost quite tamely at 2-11.
Thereafter, Diya put up a spirited fight and managed to keep pace, but the American top seed managed to win the next two games by close margins to post an 8-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-8 win.
Earlier in the semi-finals, Diya prevailed over Emine Ernst of The Netherlands, winning 3-1 (11-5, 11-9, 12-14, 11-2), while Amy overcame Hungary’s Anita Drabant 3-1 (11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 14-12).
There was more joy for the Indians as they bagged their eighth bronze medal when Himnakulhpuingheta Jeho reached the semi-final round of cadet boys’ singles only to be beaten by Belgium’s Nicolas Degros 3-1.
Overall, India finished with a haul of two gold, one silver and eight bronze medals.
