The Indian men’s team did the unthinkable by beating fancied Japan 3-1 in the quarterfinals to assure the country its first-ever medal in table tennis in the history of the Asiad here on Monday.
For the Indians, it did not matter if Japan’s top three players were missing from the competition.
“At the end of the day, it is an Asian Games medal. I never dreamt of it,” veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal said.
Until Monday night, India did not have a single medal in the sport which was introduced in the Games programme in 1958.
World No. 33, Sharath, blanked World No. 19 Kenta Matsudaira 11-8, 12-10, 11-8. G. Sathiyan, ranked 39, won both his singles matches against 28th-ranked Jin Ueda and Matsudaira.
In the women’s team event, India lost to Hong Kong 1-3 in the quarterfinals.