Manika enters semis as Mouma crashes out

Manika Batra cruised to the semifinals of the women's singles even as experienced paddler Mouma Das ended her campaign of the Commonwealth Games here today.

Manika, who played a stellar role in India's historic gold in the women's team event, notched up a win against Singapore's Yihan Zhou 4-1. The Delhi paddler hardly broke a sweat in the first three games, winning 11-5 11-6 11-2.

However, she was unable to finish the match as she stumbled in the fourth game 6-11 but sealed the match with a 11-9 win in the fifth game.

"I have played against Zhou in the women's team final, so I knew she would be prepared. I am playing the best table tennis of my career so far. I was very relaxed this entire match," Manika said later.

"I want to win the gold medal in women's singles and women's double events."
Madhurika Patkar also crashed out of the event as she lost to England's Kelly Sibley 9-11 8-11 11-2 3-11 11-8 6-11
"In yesterday's round of 32 game against Javen Choong (Malaysia), I took it too easy. I won 4-3, but I was a bit lost in my head. Today I had to put my head back together."