Xtra Time Web Desk: India’s ace paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal defeated Liam Pitchford 11-13, 11-7, 11-2, 11-6, 11-8 in the final of the Table Tennis men’s singles of Commonwealth Games 2022 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on Monday. Gnanasekaran Sathiyan defeated Paul Drinkhall 11-9, 11-3, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9 to win bronze medal for India
It was the third gold for Sharath Kamal in CWG 2022, having already won it in men’s team event and mixed doubles. He also won silver in men’s doubles. He looked in top form throughout the contest. Pitchford did not play a bad game, but the Indian was in his element from the first game. Achanta did not give much chance to his opponent, who did play some good shots and games. But the experience and class of Achanta shone through.
He proved to be of the one of the best Indian paddlers the country has ever produced. It was his seventh gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Interestingly, he had won his last men’s singles gold medal at CWG in 2006 and after a period of 16 years, the Indian has once again become a champion at the age of 40.
Overall, he has 13 medals in the Commonwealth Games, which is simply stunning. Add to that the two Asian Games medal, he has a legendary status in the sport in India.