India’s Yashaswini Ghorpade overcame a spirited challenge from Singapore teenager Chong Sian Zi to enter the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships at the Thyagaraj Stadium on Friday.
Fresh from playing a key role in India’s team gold medal triumph, the third seed prevailed 4-1, but the scoreline scarcely reflected the quality of resistance offered by the 15-year-old Singaporean.
Chong countered Yashaswini’s long-pimpled backhand with impressive composure, refusing to be drawn into errors and matching the Indian in extended rallies. The only one-sided game came in the third, when Yashaswini unleashed a series of forehand winners that left the teenager with few answers. Undeterred, Chong continued to trouble the Indian with her fearless shot-making before eventually bowing out.
With the host nation allowed to field 16 paddlers each in the men’s and women’s singles, the Indians dominated the day’s action and secured a majority of berths in the pre-quarterfinals.
Sayali Wani kept India’s campaign on track with a hard-fought victory over Malaysia’s Ying Ho, while Yashini Sivashankar exited after an encouraging display against Australia’s Constantina Psihogios. The young Indian repeatedly tested the Australian before going down in a closely fought contest.
Top seed Yangzi Liu of Australia, the highest-ranked player in the tournament, avenged her defeat in the team championships by brushing aside Malaysia’s Karen Lyne in straight games to progress comfortably.
Jash Modi beat Thisas Methkalana of Sri Lanka.
| Photo Credit:
SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
In the men’s singles, Payas Jain, a member of India’s gold medal-winning team, proved too strong for Malaysia’s Choong Javen to move into the last 16. Defensive specialist H. Jeho ended compatriot Mudit Dani’s campaign with a clinical victory in an all-Indian encounter, while Ronit Bhanja produced an entertaining 4-1 win over Singapore’s Ellsworth Le to complete another successful day for the home contingent.
Important Results: Singles (round of 32): Men: Jash Modi bt Thisas Methkalana (SL) 11-2, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5; Akash Pal bt August Xiao (NZ) 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6; Payas Jain bt Javen Choong (Mas) 11-7, 13-11, 11-6, 11-5; Sanil Shetty bt Eli Ho (NZ) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8; Harmeet Desai bt Xuqi Lin (Aus) 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4; H. Jeho bt Mudit Dani 11-8, 11-3, 11-3, 11-8; Ronit Bhanja bt Ellsworth Le (Sgp) 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 15-13; Manav Thakkar bt Akhyar Ahmed Khalid (Mdv) 11-7, 11-7, 11-6, 11-2.
Women: Yanzgi Liu (Aus) bt Karen Lyne Anak Dick (Mas) 11-4, 11-4, 11-7, 11-2; Swastika Ghosh bt Olivia Huang (CAN) 11-7, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6; Anusha Kutumbale bt Jocelyn Lam (NZ) 10-12, 11-3, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5; Tin-Tin Ho (Eng) bt Kavya Bhatt 6-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-1, 11-2; Taneesha Kotecha bt Anzhou Han (NZ) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7; Ai Xin Tee (Mas) bt Suhana Saini 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6; Nithyashree Mani bt Fiona Iayi Nie (Can) 11-2, 11-6, 11-5, 13-11; Sayali Wani bt Ying Ho (Mas) 12-10, 13-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9; Constantina Psihogios (Aus) Yashini Sivasankar 5-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 19-17; Yashaswini Ghorpade bt Sian Zi Chong (Sgp) 11-8, 11-7, 11-2, 11-13, 12-10.
Published – July 31, 2026 08:35 pm IST
