Table Tennis News: India men defend crown, women create history at Commonweath TT

Indian men defended their crown while the women blanked England for their maiden title at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships. England tried to change the script but the Indian men brought in a twist to the tale through birthday boy Harmeet Desai to end the English hopes to lift the Host Association's Cup. The men beat England 3-2 while Indian women did the impossible, downing England women team 3-0. India women have won the title for the first time since its inception in 1971. Men could extend their reign for the second successive time after annexing the title in the previous edition at Surat in 2015. They had won their first crown in Kuala Lumpur in 2004. Also, Manika Batra, who withdrew at the eleventh hour from singles and doubles, forced the referee to redraw the seeding list this afternoon. Manika informed TTFI and the referee of her pull-out this morning, citing her indisposition. She, however, played her part and helped India win the women's crown.