NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

India assured of a medal in tennis

Harpal Singh Bedi in Bangkok

India is assured of a medal in the tennis competition at the 13th Asian Games.

Mahesh Bhupathi and Prahlad Srinath registered contrasting wins over their Pakistan rivals to storm into the semifinals of the team events.

According to tournament technical director S Uttrapathy, both the losing semifinalists will get a bronze each and there will be no play-off for the third place.

Srinath gave India the rousing start as he humbled Pakistan number one Mohammed Khaliq 6-3, 6-2 in 70 minutes. In the process, he took sweet revenge for the defeat he had suffered at the hand of the Pakistan player in the Asia Cup at New Delhi last month.

Khaliq had then beaten Srinath 6-1, 6-4.

Bhupathi overcame spirited Pakistan junior Aisam ul Haq Qureshi 6-4, 7-5 in 78 minutes.

Srinath was in devastating form. He rattled the Pakistani with his serve and returns. Khaliq later admitted that Srinath was ''too much for me today''.

Srinath and Khaliq broke each other in the third and fourth games and then the Indian with some superb strokes and cross court volleys broke the Pakistani in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. He broke Khaliq again in the ninth game to take the set 6-3.

In the second set, Srinath dominated the proceedings and never allowed the Pakistani to settle down. Khaliq had no answer for Srinath's forehand, backhand and cross court returns. He was unable to come to the net; whenever he tried to rush in, Srinath passed him.

Khaliq failed to hold on to his second and fourth serve though he managed to break Srinath in the third.

The Indian was in full flow, covered the slow court well and executed his shots well. Khaliq started to return into the net and committed several unforced errors.

Khaliq again failed to hold his sixth serve, but broke Srinath in the seventh. Srinath hit back, breaking Khaliq in the eighth game to win the set 6-2 and wrap up the match.

In the second match, Bhupathi was given a tough fight by 18-year-old world number 10 junior Qureshi.

The Indian, who had beaten Qureshi in the Asia Cup, had to bring out his best to quell the Pakistani challenge.

''It was very hot out there and I did want to go into the third set,'' Bhupathi said after the match. He admitted it was a tough match. ''Since both of us have strong service games, there was no rhythm, no long rallies.''

Bhupathi broke Qureshi in the very first game. Both players then held on to their serves for the rest of the set.

Bhupathi fired five aces and executed some tremendous shots and drives. Very rarely did he rush to the net and was content to control the proceedings from the baseline.

Qureshi matched Bhupathi's big serves and powerful drives. In the second set. He had a chance to break Bhupathi in the eighth game when the Indian was trailing 15-40 on his serve.

Bhupathi managed to save serve because of the Pakistani's lack of experience and big match temperament.

The world number two doubles player -- along with Leander Paes -- finally broke his rival in the 11th game and then won the next game and the set with a stunning ace.

Bhupathi praised Srinath's performance in the first match. It was ''unbelievable the way Srinath played,'' he said.

''He kept his cool and executed the game-plan,'' Bhupathi said, adding that the semifinal against Japan on Friday will be tough. ''Japan is a hard side.''

Asked if he would take part in all the tennis events, Bhupathi said: ''Let the team events be over and then I will decide.''

''I have to be sure whether my body can withstand that much of pressure. It is no use playing in the doubles and mixed doubles and then opt out,'' he added.

UNI