SURAT: Anthony Amalraj could not become the only second Indian after Sharath Kamal to win the men’s singles gold as he went down to Singapore's Chen Feng 2-4 on the concluding day of the 20th Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships here today.
The women singles gold, too, went the Singapore way when Zhou Yiyan beat Mouma Das 4-1.
However, this was the best ever Indian showing in a Commonwealth Championships as the hosts led the medal tally with three gold, five silver and seven bronze medals, including a gold and silver in team championships, for the total count of 16 medals. India's highest tally was nine medals which the hosts had won at New Delhi two years ago.
Incidentally, Sharath’s was also the only individual medal in any championships and that came in 2004, besides leading the team to its first gold.
Singapore finished behind India with four gold and a team bronze medal. England’s men ended with a silver and their women a bronze while Northern Ireland men and the women from Wales shared a bronze each.
Soumyajit Ghosh and Harmeet Desai deservingly won the men’s double gold, beating teammates G. Sathiyan and Devesh Karia 3-2. The tough final saw good, speedy rallies but the experienced pair held on to go over the line.
Results: Men’s Singles:
Final: Chen Feng (SIN) bt Anthony Amalraj 4-2 (11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 14-12, 11-7)
Women’s Singles: Final: Zhou Yihan (SIN) bt Mouma Das 4-1 (11-7, 11-5, 7-11, 11-2, 11-3)
Men’s Doubles: Final: Soumyajit Ghosh/Harmeet Desai bt G.Sathiyan/Devesh Karia 3-2 (5-11, 11-.8, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3)
Women’s Doubles: Final: Lin Ye/Zhou Yihan (SIN) bt Manika Batra/Ankita Das 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-9)