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After Sharath Kamal, Indian table tennis play Harmeet Desai has been eliminated from the Paris 2024 Olympics men’s singles table tennis event after losing 11-8, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 to France's Felix Lebrun in the Round of 64.
Ranked third in the world, the 17-year-old Frenchman displayed exceptional performance, overwhelming 63-ranked Desai, who had earlier secured his place in the main draw after winning the preliminary round.
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Lebrun started strong, leveraging his home advantage and the support of the local crowd to secure an 11-8 win. Despite Desai’s best efforts and some impressive rallies, Lebrun managed to stay ahead.
The second game mirrored the first, with Lebrun once again emerging victorious with an 11-8 scoreline. The game lasted slightly longer, at seven minutes, but Desai struggled to find a breakthrough.
Lebrun continued his dominance, winning the third game 11-6. This victory put him in a commanding 3-0 lead, making it increasingly difficult for Desai to mount a comeback.
The final game saw Lebrun wrap up the match with another 11-8 win, sealing a comprehensive 4-0 victory and advancing to the next round where he will face Sweden's Anton Kallberg.
Harmeet Desai to play in India men's table tennis team events alongside Sharath Kamal and Manav Thakkar
However, despite the loss, this is not the end for Harmeet Desai in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Desai is set to make his return on August 5 as a member of the Indian men's table tennis team, with Sharath Kamal at the helm.
In their opening match, the Indian squad will go up against the formidable People's Republic of China, who have dominated the event with four consecutive gold medals since 2008. This appearance is particularly noteworthy as it marks the Indian men's team's first foray into the Olympic team events.
The team includes seasoned players Sharath Kamal, Manav Thakkar, and national champion Harmeet Desai, while Commonwealth Games gold medalist Gnanasekaran Sathiyan will be on standby as the reserve player.
