Paddler harmeet desai

Paddler Harmeet Desai: In what was expected to be a comfortable encounter, India’s Harmeet Desai brushed aside Jordanian paddler Zaid Abo Yaman with a 4-0 win (11-7, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5) in the preliminary round of the men’s singles table tennis competition at the Olympic Games here on Saturday.

Desai, who was a pivotal figure in the gold-winning team competition at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and 2022, dealt with the WR 538 player, as he sealed the game in just 30 minutes.

It will be a tough next encounter for Desai as he will take on home favourite and World Ranked 5 Felix Lebrun on Sunday in the Round of 64.