Shetty loses, Indian challenge ends in Kuwait Open

New Delhi: Youngster Sanil Shetty crashed out in Under-21 singles quarterfinal of Kuwait Open as India`s

challenge came to an end in the pro tour table tennis championships at Kuwait City. Shetty put up a spirited fight against Kim Min Seok in the final-eight match but went down 1-4 to the Korean in a marathon encounter yesterday. The Indian struggled in the first two games, which he lost to Seok 9-11 and 7-11, but then tried to fight back into the match with a 13-11 win in the third game. Shetty`s effort, however, was foiled by Seok, who won the next two games 11-7 and 11-8 to clinch the match. Seok later went down 1-4 to compatriot and the eventual winner Seo Hyun Deok in the semifinal. Deok beat Jung Young Sik 4-1 in an all-Korean summit clash. All the other Indians, including Olympian Achanta Sharath Kamal, have already crashed out of the tournament. The bronze was bagged by Pushpanjali Rana who shot a score of 473.7 (375+98.7). However, Gagan Narang`s golden streak came to an end as he had to be content with a silver in the 50m Rifle Prone event after losing in the shoot-off. Gagan had bagged four gold medals coming into this event. Gagan (596+101.5) and Australian Warren Potent (595+102.5) were tied at a score of 697.5 but the shooter from Down Under ended up on top after pipping the Indian to post in the shoot-off. While Gagan shot a 10, Potent nosed ahead with a score of 10.3. The bronze medal went to another Australian Thomas Versace, who shot 697.2. There was similar heartbreak for India in skeet men`s singles where Weshman Malcolm Allen beat local favourite Mairaj Ahmed Khan in the tie-breaker to clinch the gold medal. Both the shooters were tied at a score of 143 after the final round but Allen finished a point ahead of the Indian in the tie-breaker. PTI