Paddlers Ghosh-Desai finish runners-up in Australia

Third seeded Indian pair of Harmeet Desai and Soumyajit Ghosh went down in the doubles final of the GAC Group ITTF World Tour Australian Open table tennis tournament in Gold Coast, Australia, on Saturday.

The fourth seeded Kwan Kit and Lam Siu Hang of Hong Kong beat the Indian duo 11-4, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4 in the final.

However, it still remained a memorable day for Ghosh and Desai who defeated Robin Devos and Cedric Nuytinck of Belgium 14-12, 7-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9 in the semifinals. Last month, they had reached the semi-finals in doubles event of the Philippines Open. In singles, both Ghosh and Desai had lost in the pre-quarterfinals.

The results: men's singles (pre-quarterfinals): Youngsik Jung (Kor) bt Soumyajit Ghosh (Ind) 13-15, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6; Yuya Oshima (Jpn) bt Harmeet Desai (Ind) 11-3, 11-3, 11-5, 11-5.

First round: Soumyajit Ghosh (Ind) bt Yuki Matsuyama (Jpn) 12-10, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3; Harmeet Desai (Ind) bt Justin Han (Aus) 8-11, 16-14, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7.

Doubles (Final): Ho Kwan Kit/Lam Sin Hang (Hong Kong) bt Harmeet Desai/Soumyajit Ghosh 11-4, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4.

Semi-final: Harmeet Desai/Soumyajit Ghosh (Ind) bt Robin Devos/Cedric Nuytinck 14-12, 7-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9.

Quarter-finals: Harmeet Desai/Soumyajit Ghosh (Ind) bt William Henzell/David Powell (Aus) 11-9, 11-9, 11-3, 10-12, 11-8.

First round: Harmeet Desai/Soumyajit Ghosh (Ind) bt Juke Duffy/Dominic Huang (Aus) 11-9, 6-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-7.

Image:Soumyajit Ghosh