England men and women remain unbeaten at the Commonwealth Championships in India, with both reaching tomorrow’s semi-finals.
The men’s team of Sam Walker, Tom Jarvis and David McBeath had the tougher passage, having to overcome Nigeria in their final second-stage match after earlier beating both Australia and Singapore 3-1.
For Walker and McBeath it must have brought back memories of the Commonwealth Games semi-final in Australia last year, which Nigeria won to deprive England of a spot in the gold medal match.
One of the opponents from that day, Bode Obiodun, was again on the other end of the table and he showed similar form to that clash, winning both his matches today against first Jarvis, in five, and then Walker in three straight.
However, Walker beat Olajide Omotayo in three and McBeath overcame Azeez Jamiu 13-11 in a decider to leave Jarvis needing to beat Omotayo to ensure England topped the group. He did so in a decider, though Jarvis was never behind and won the fifth 11-3.
England now face Malaysia in the semi-finals, with the other last-four clash between hosts India and Singapore.
Click here to watch selected live matches from Cuttack.
The women’s line-up of Tin-Tin Ho, Denise Payet and Emily Bolton did not have quite as dramatic a day but impressed throughout, defeating Australia and Singapore 3-1 and Sri Lanka 3-0 to top their group.
Ho was unassailable, winning all five of her matches, while Denise Payet was also unbeaten in her three.
England will play Nigeria in tomorrow’s semi-finals, with the other tie between India and Singapore.
Of the other home nations, Wales will play Nigeria in the fifth-place play-off of the men’s event, while Scotland ended in 12th position.
In today’s matches in Cuttack, Wales (Callum Evans, Josh Stacey, Dean Cundy, Benedict Watson) lost 3-0 to Malaysia and India but beat Sri Lanka 3-1. Scotland (Niall Cameron, Colin Dalgleish, Christopher Main, Dylan Curry) beat Bangladesh 3-2 but were defeated 3-1 by both Cyprus and South Africa.
In the women’s event, Wales will face Sri Lanka in the seventh-place play-off, while Scotland finished in 10th.
In today’s matches, Scotland (Rebecca Plaistow, Lucy Elliott, Faye Leggett, Lara Stirling) beat Bangladesh 3-0 but lost 3-0 to Cyprus and 3-2 to South Africa. Wales (Charlotte Carey, Beth Richards, Lara Whitton, Anna Hursey) lost 3-0 to India and 3-2 to both Nigeria and Malaysia.
Results
Women’s Team
Group E
England 3 Australia 1
Denise Payet bt Chunyi Feng 3-2 (8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8)
Tin-Tin Ho bt Melissa Tapper 3-0 (11-9, 14-12, 11-7)
Michelle Bromey bt Emily Bolton 3-2 (8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 11-4)
Ho bt Feng 3-1 (16-14, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7)
England 3 Singapore 1
Ho bt Wong Xin Ru 3-1 (11-5, 11-2, 11-13, 11-9)
Payet bt Gio Rui Xuan 3-1 (11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7)
Lim Eunice Zoe bt Bolton 3-1 (11-7, 10-12, 11-5, 11-9)
Ho bt Gio 3-1 (6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 13-11)
England 3 Sri Lanka 0
Ho bt Bimandi Bandara 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-4)
Payet bt Ishara Madurangi 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-8)
Bolton bt Jithara Warnakulasuriya 3-0 (11-3, 11-3 ,11-6)
Men’s Team
Group E
England 3 Singapore 1
Sam Walker bt Pang Yu En Koen 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-2)
Chew Zheyu Clarence bt Tom Jarvis 3-1 (11-6, 6-11, 11-4, 11-4)
Beh Kun Ting bt David McBeath 3-1 (11-9, 14-16, 11-3, 12-10)
Walker bt Chew 3-0 (12-10, 11-9, 11-9)
Jarvis bt Pang 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 12-10)
England 3 Australia 1
Walker bt David Powell 3-1 (11-6, 6-11, 12-10, 11-9)
Jarvis bt Dillon Chambers 3-2 (7-11, 11-1, 11-2, 7-11, 11-8)
Heming Hu bt McBeath 3-1( 7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7)
Walker bt Chambers 3-1 (11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5)
England 3 Nigeria 2
Bode Abiodun bt Jarvis 3-2 (6-11, 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6)
Walker bt Olajide Omotayo 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-7)
McBeath bt Azeez Jamiu 3-2 (11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 6-11, 13-11)
Abiodun bt Walker 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-5)
Jarvis bt Omotayo 3-2 (11-8, 5-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3)