Sharath stunned as Bengaluru Smashers beat Chennai Lions

Mumbai: Jeet Chandra stunned India’s top-ranked male paddler, A Sharath Kamal, as PBG Bengaluru Smashers thrashed Chennai Lions 11-4 in the Ultimate Table Tennis championship here on Friday.

New PBG Bengaluru Smashers captain Alvaro Robles began the tie with a men’s singles bout against Frenchman Jules Rolland. Robles, ranked 30th in the world, opened with a win, sustaining pressure in the final game from a resurgent Rolland to claim the match 2-1. Subsequently, Lily Zhang beat Poymantee Baisya by the same scoreline to increase PBG Bengaluru’s lead to 4-2.

Another home favourite, Anthony Amalraj, partnered Zhang in an entertaining mixed doubles win over Sharath and Mori. Later, in the tie’s second women’s singles match, Manika Batra lost to Sakura Mori 2-1. Manika took the early lead but conceded the following two games to her opponents, the second being decided in a nail-biting manner through the Golden Point. Still, PBG Bengaluru Smashers won the tie in style.