Lashin not enough to save Bangladesh

Palolic Club of Bangladesh got their first win on the second day of the Advocate Golam Mostafa Memorial South Asian Club Table Tennis Championship as they defeated Bhutan's Thimphu Club on the back of fiery performances from Egpytian recruit El-Sayed Lashin at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong yesterday.

However, the story was quite different during their second match on a hectic day as they failed to defeat India's Bengal Club despite more strong showings from Lashin, who was let down by his teammates.

As on the opening day, when Bangladesh lost by 3-2 sets to Nepal, the Alexandria native won all his matches yesterday. He produced 3-2, 3-2 and 3-1 set wins against both Bengal and Thimphu Club respectively.

The day got off to a smooth start as Palolic Club defeated Thimphu Club by three sets to none, before suffering a narrow 3-2 sets defeat to South Asian champions India's Bengal Club in their second outing.

Palolic coach Mohammad Ali lamented the fact that his local players could not put up much of a fight, but praised the unit's teamwork.

"It is true that other than Lashin our local players could not showcase any significant fight but we should consider the teamwork the players have shown," Ali said.

However, Lashin remained modest when speaking after his game against Nepal on Saturday. “The coach is very good and all the players in the team have good understanding amongst them. It is important the team should win,” he said.

On the other hand, Palolic Club's Manash Chowdhury, who won only one match against Bhutan and failed to back up Lashin against India, could not hide his sorrow while speaking to reporters.

"Of course the possibility of winning against India was only 20 per cent. They are the top team and it was pretty tough standing up to them," Manash said.

The only consolation from Bangladesh's encounter against Bengal Club was perhaps the comment from Indian paddler Saugata Sarkar, who had said after the opening day's play that Lashin did not worry him. He was beaten by three sets to two by 38-year-old Lashin and said: "I played against Lashin for the first time. He is a great player. Apart from the sets, we did what was obvious."

At the end of the second day, India and Nepal remained undefeated while Bangladesh claimed in third place.