<p>The quartet of Virdhawal Khade, Anshul Kothari, Arjun Jayaprakash and Aaron D'Souza finished sixth in the morning heats to make the evening final in 4x100m freestyle relay.<br />India also qualified for the semifinals when Badrinath Melkote (men's 50m backstroke) and Shubha Chittaranjan (women's 50m butterfly) finished 14th and 16th in their respective events.<br /><br />Away from the pool, Indian women, seeded second in the table tennis team event, started their campaign on a resounding note by blanking Sri Lanka 3-0 in Group D at the Yamuna Sports complex.<br /><br />Led by its biggest hope, Khade, the Indian freestyle team clocked 3:28.06s at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Aquatics Complex.<br />The Indian quartet finished 12.87s behind preliminary round toppers -- the Australian team of Kyle Morgan Richardson, Cameron Colin Prosser, James Magnussen and Tommaso William D'Orsogna in the heats.<br /><br />Hailing the quartet's epoch-making feat national chief coach S Pradeep Kumar added the team, however, did not stand a chance to attain a podium finish.<br />"This is really fantastic. We have made history by reaching the final for the first time in Commonwealth Games competition," Pradeep said.<br /><br />"Our timing is not good enough to earn a podium finish. It will be difficult in the final. However, we should aim for a fourth-place finish, which will be good for the relay team."<br />But all other swimmers sunk without making a splash. Surbahi Tipre and Arti Ghorpade finished a disappointing 22nd and 24th in women's 200m freestyle.<br />In men's 400m freestyle heats, Mandar Divase and Ullalmath Gangan finished distant 17th and 18th respectively.<br /><br />Other Indians to bow out on day one included Beijing Olympian Rehan Poncha and Tarun Tokas (men's 200m butterfly); Priyanka Priyadarshini, Poorva Shetye and Mankiran Kaur (women's 50m breaststroke) and Pooja Alva (women's 200m IM).<br />Poncha was 17th while Tokas finished a lowly 20th in heats. Priyanka (35.43s) was the best among the Indian trio in women's 50m breaststroke, despite a disappointing 21st-place finish. Her teammates Poorva and Mankiran finished 24th and 25th respectively.<br /><br />In table tennis, Mouma Das paved the way with a 11-4 11-5 11-4 demolition of Ishara Madurangi Darshika 11-4 11-5 11-4 before Shamini Kumareshan put the hosts 2-0 ahead by outclassing Nuwani Navodya 11-9 11-9 11-7.<br />Reigning national champion Poulomi Ghatak then wrapped up the tie by edging past Kavindi Rukmali 11-8 11-8 11-7.<br />The Indian eves have to play New Zealand next with Ghana as their other opponents in the group.</p>
<p>The quartet of Virdhawal Khade, Anshul Kothari, Arjun Jayaprakash and Aaron D'Souza finished sixth in the morning heats to make the evening final in 4x100m freestyle relay.<br />India also qualified for the semifinals when Badrinath Melkote (men's 50m backstroke) and Shubha Chittaranjan (women's 50m butterfly) finished 14th and 16th in their respective events.<br /><br />Away from the pool, Indian women, seeded second in the table tennis team event, started their campaign on a resounding note by blanking Sri Lanka 3-0 in Group D at the Yamuna Sports complex.<br /><br />Led by its biggest hope, Khade, the Indian freestyle team clocked 3:28.06s at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Aquatics Complex.<br />The Indian quartet finished 12.87s behind preliminary round toppers -- the Australian team of Kyle Morgan Richardson, Cameron Colin Prosser, James Magnussen and Tommaso William D'Orsogna in the heats.<br /><br />Hailing the quartet's epoch-making feat national chief coach S Pradeep Kumar added the team, however, did not stand a chance to attain a podium finish.<br />"This is really fantastic. We have made history by reaching the final for the first time in Commonwealth Games competition," Pradeep said.<br /><br />"Our timing is not good enough to earn a podium finish. It will be difficult in the final. However, we should aim for a fourth-place finish, which will be good for the relay team."<br />But all other swimmers sunk without making a splash. Surbahi Tipre and Arti Ghorpade finished a disappointing 22nd and 24th in women's 200m freestyle.<br />In men's 400m freestyle heats, Mandar Divase and Ullalmath Gangan finished distant 17th and 18th respectively.<br /><br />Other Indians to bow out on day one included Beijing Olympian Rehan Poncha and Tarun Tokas (men's 200m butterfly); Priyanka Priyadarshini, Poorva Shetye and Mankiran Kaur (women's 50m breaststroke) and Pooja Alva (women's 200m IM).<br />Poncha was 17th while Tokas finished a lowly 20th in heats. Priyanka (35.43s) was the best among the Indian trio in women's 50m breaststroke, despite a disappointing 21st-place finish. Her teammates Poorva and Mankiran finished 24th and 25th respectively.<br /><br />In table tennis, Mouma Das paved the way with a 11-4 11-5 11-4 demolition of Ishara Madurangi Darshika 11-4 11-5 11-4 before Shamini Kumareshan put the hosts 2-0 ahead by outclassing Nuwani Navodya 11-9 11-9 11-7.<br />Reigning national champion Poulomi Ghatak then wrapped up the tie by edging past Kavindi Rukmali 11-8 11-8 11-7.<br />The Indian eves have to play New Zealand next with Ghana as their other opponents in the group.</p>