The Hall 4 Table Tennis team opened its account in this Inter Hall Games with a calm and smooth victory over Hall 9. Facing a competent but dull opponent, we swept and took the series within three matches, eventually running out 4-1 winners.
Our team appeared cool and relaxed before the series. Team manager and female singles Louisa said about Hall 9, "They should be not bad, as they have an IVP player in their ranks." But, in the same vein of confidence as her players, Louisa believed that we "should be able to win, hopefully".
The team benches.Hall 4 top male player Zhiyang took to the table first. It turned out Hall 9 sent an inferior male singles, and, excusing the few scares we received, Zhiyang finished him off in straight sets.
Zhiyang keeping his cool.
Congratulated on the win.The confident Louisa dominated her match next. The Hall 9 girl was shaky and as the match progressed, was intimidated by our player's superior skills and relentless offence. We did, however, drop a set in a rush to finish off the match.
A pleased Louisa posing for us while her opponent was busily receiving instructions on how to beat our star girl.Foreign talent made up our male doubles team, and they proved their quality. The telepathic pair of Mayank and Suptil were simply too good for the amateurish opponents from Hall 9, taking it in straight sets and completing the series for us.
Poetry in motion.At this point the umpire signalled to us that we could choose not to play on, but after a discussion between him, Louisa and Hall 4 President Gary, it was believed to be in good faith and spirit to finish the series of 5.
It seemed that Hall 9 had strategised to field their best players for the last two matches of female doubles and mixed doubles. Our competent pair of Liying and Liyan came up against two equally good players. The match was close, but Hall 4 dropped her first match here.
It seemed that Hall 9 had strategised to field their best players for the last two matches of female doubles and mixed doubles. Our competent pair of Liying and Liyan came up against two equally good players. The match was close, but Hall 4 dropped her first match here.
The classic hand signals in doubles play.
Our two star female players.The guy who was seemingly the coach of our opponents, finally appeared at the table. Paired with an adept female partner, they were arguably Hall 9's strongest weapon. Gary courageously took on the challenge; not forgetting that in Nellie, he has a superb partner, and this gave us a good chance. Gamesmanship came to the fore, as both sets of players displayed obvious emotions when points were won.
"I can't believe I did that."
Ready for another titanic point.In the end, our star Nellie, combined with some deft moves by Gary, swept the match for us. Gary pointed out after the match, "I was careless at the beginning, but after the few mistakes, I pulled myself together."
The delighted winning squad.Our team will now move on to the Winners' Pool to face the winner of the other Group D match, outcome still undecided at publication time.
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