Soumyadeep Roy got past T. Apolonia in four games

New Delhi: The Indian eves blanked Austria 3-0 in their final league encounter to lead group E in the world team table tennis meet in Doha. Indian men also kept alive their hopes of reaching the top spot in their group with a win over Portugal.

The eves will now play group F winners Spain in the positional match to decide the second division champion. The winner of the India-Spain encounter will qualify for the first division in the next edition.

Bengal’s Poulami Ghatak beat M. Petzner 11-6, 11-6, 11-8, while statemate Mouma Das was stretched before getting the better of V. Heine 16-14, 11-6, 5-11, 12-10. Nandita Saha then disposed of K. Wolf 11-3, 11-0, 11-9.

The men trounced Portugal 3-0 with Chetan Baboor leading with an 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 win over E. Mendes. Sharath Kamal then took care of J. Monteiro 13-11, 11-7, 11-7, while Bengal’s Soumyadeep Roy got past T. Apolonia 11-8, 2-11, 11-6, 11-4.