Panaji: Indian women on Monday defeated Portugal 3-0 to bag gold medal in table tennis match at ongoing Lusofonia games. India have won all the league matches in the tournament.
Portugal and Sri Lanka had to settle for silver and bronze medals,respectively. For India, three-time national champion Shamini Kumarsen, current national champion Ankita Das and Madhurika Patkar won their all singles matches.
In the first match, Kumarsen defeated Joana Mota by 11-7, 11-5, 9-11 and 13-11. Das trounced Rackel Andrade by straight set to 11-8, 11-8 and 11-7, thus giving India 2-0 lead.
In the last game, Patkar beat Joana Fins by 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 to give India its first gold of the tournament.This is the first medal India in Lusofonia table tennis event.
In football, India defeated Mozambique 2-1 in their opening match of group B at Tilak Stadium, Vasco. In the warm-up match, Indian team, comprising all Goan players, scored twice in the second half through Umesh Harijan (56th) and Mander Rao Dessai (60th).
Mozambique team, comprising U-20 national players, found the going tough against a disciplined and well-organised Indian side, however, reduced the margin in the 86th minute through Alexandre Guambe. Indian and Mozambique teams have already made it to the semi-finals as they are only two participants in "B" group.
India, who played with five midfielders and a lone forward, did well to counter rival moves with Goa's sensation Brandon Fernandes controlling the midfield with aplomb and distributed the ball well. India, who played a cautious game in the first-half, held their forte well and attacked the rival's citadel with fast counter moves. It came close to scoring twice in first-half. However, Umesh Harijan's try narrowly missed the goal off a move from Brandon and Myron.
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