India sweeps TT event with seven gold medals

Reigning national champions Anthony Amalraj and Manika Batra clinched a hattrick of gold medals each, helping India make another clean sweep by winning a maximum seven gold and five silver medals to sign off from table tennis in the 12th South Asian Games here today.
Amalraj was leading 6-11 11-6 11-6 and were 2-2 in the four game against Sathiyan who then conceded the match due to injury.
Five-time former national champion Mouma Das denied reigning national champion Manika a fourth gold after winning 13-15 12-10 7-11 15-13 11-8 11-13 11-9 in a marathon battle.
The tall Manika earlier in the day added the women's doubles crown with Pooja Sahasrabudhe prevailing over the more-experienced pair of Mouma and K Shamini 11-7 13-11 11-5 in 30 minutes.

In the men's doubles final G Sathiyan and Devesh Karia defeated Amalraj and Sanil Shetty 11-1 11-8 11-6 for the second gold at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Complex.
The 5 feet 11 inches tall Manika has impressed with her court coverage.

"I'm really helped by my fitness coach Jagdev Chauhan while my mother -- Sushma -- is always behind me. I'm really thankful to them for such a glorious run," Manika, who hails from Delhi, told PTI.
Off the court, Manika however looks up to Mouma's rich experience.
"The rivalry is only limited to table. She has rich experience and gives me valuable inputs," she added.