Jakarta,

 The Indian table tennis contingent’s dream run at the Asian Games got better today when the mixed doubles pairing of Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra exceeded its own expectations to win a historic bronze. The Kamal-led men’s team had secured a bronze yesterday, ending India’s 60-year-wait for a maiden medal at the Asiad. Today, Kamal and Batra played four matches and only the opener against Malaysia was comfortable. In the lead-up to the event, Kamal had slammed the scheduling of the competition.  In the semifinals, Kamal and Batra made life tough for China’s Yingsha Sun and Wang Sun before going down 9-11, 5-11, 13-11, 4-11, 8-11. In the pre-quarterfinals, they beat South Korea’s Lee Sangsu and Jeon Jihee 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4, before getting past North Korea’s Cha Hyo Sim and An Ji Song 11-4, 10-12, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8 in the quarters.