Commonwealth Games 2014: Achanta Sharath Kamal and Shamini Kumaresan reach mixed doubles quarters

Achanta Sharat Kamal prepares to serve during the mixed doubles quarterfinals

Glasgow, July 31 (IANS) India's mixed doubles table tennis pair of Sharath Kamal and Shamini Kumaresan advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2014 Commonwealth Games on Thursday. The Indian duo recorded a hard fought 11-6, 8-11, 4-11, 13-11, 11-7 win over Australian pair David Powell and Jian Fang Lay in the Round of 16 at the Scotstoun Sport Campus here.

The Indian team started brightly taking the first game in just five minutes. Powell and Lay, though, hit back ferociously, winning the next two games in a total time of 11 minutes.

The crucial fourth game saw a great battle between the two teams and just when it seemed Australia would seal the game and the match, Sharath and Shamini came back from the dead to narrowly take the game. The Indian team seemed to carry forward their momentum from the previous game and romped to an 11-7 win in seven minutes.

The Indian duo will take on England's Danny Reed and Kelly Sibley later in the day for a place in the last four.