Indian paddlers enter doubles semis

India's Chetan Baboor and S Raman kept themselves on course for a medal in the table tennis competition by moving into the semi-finals of the men's doubles event of the 17th Commonwealth Games in Manchester on Friday.

The Indian duo registered a easy straight-set victory over Nigeria's Segun Moses Toriola and Monday Merotohunto romp into the last four stage while the two other Indian pairs fell by the wayside in the pre-quarter final stage.

Displaying very good form, Baboor and Raman thrashed the Nigerian pair, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9, in a match which lasted for about half an hour.

The Indian duo will clash with the fancied England pair of Andrew Baggaley and Gareth Herbert in the semi-finals.

In the women's doubles section, the seasoned duo of N R Indu and Mantu Ghosh failed to make further progress as they fell to the Australian team of Miao Miao and Jian Fang Lay.

The Indian pairing put up a spirited show but failed to counter the attacking brand of table tennis displayed by the Aussies. They eventually bowed out with a 9-11, 6-11, 11-13 scoreline.