Olympics TT: Ankita exits after losing opener

London -

Indian paddler Ankita Das stretched higher-ranked Sara Ramirez before going down in the women’s singles first round of table tennis competitions at the London Olympics here Saturday.

The 19-year-old lost to the 83rd-ranked Spaniard 9-11, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 2-11 to exit from the competition.

Ankita, making her Olympic debut here, seemed overwhelmed by the occasion and committed far too many un-forced errors through out the match. The Indian player, who hails from Siliguri in west Bengal, did well to win the fourth game, but was particularly found wanting against controlling top spin drives of her opponent.

The World No.226 Ankita, who had received a bye in the preliminary round, showed patches of brilliance after Ramirez made a good start. However, the Indian teenager conceded negative points at the net as well as in her serves to ultimately surrender to the Spaniard after a 30-minute fight.

Post match, Ankita said that she failed to utilise the chances which came her way. “I should have won the first game where I had a good chance at 9-10 when I missed my serve.

“In the third I was leading by a couple of points when I thought I had the game in my grips. But I played very badly, my backhand shots were awful today,” she said.