Panaji: Whatever Alvaro Robles touched, it turned gold.A two-time Olympian and three-time Spanish singles champion, Alvaro has been the heartbeat of Dempo Goa Challengers in Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT). Nowhere was this more evident than at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor stadium in Taleigao as his impeccable performance helped Goa outsmart former champions Dabang Delhi TTC 8-2 in first semifinal on Friday.From the first singles, where the veteran outclassed Youssef Abdelaziz in straight games, to partnering teenage Syndrela Das for another flawless win against Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Maria Xiao, Alvaro was simply unbeatable.Even his opponents graciously accepted defeat. “The way he played tonight, the opponent wouldn’t have mattered,” said Delhi captain Sathiyan, India’s most decorated table tennis player.Alvaro played six games and won them all, laying the foundation for Goa’s entry into the final. Bernadette Szocs won a game against Xiao – even though she lost the match 1-2 – and Abhinandh PB closed out the tie with a win over Sathiyan, winning six points in a row.“In the semifinal both teams are always nervous, so it’s a good feeling to perform and help my team,” Alvaro told TOI after the win. “Winning in the group stages is one thing, and here (in the semis), it’s must-win match. We needed a good start, which we managed. I am really happy to help my team.”Alvaro was terrific in the singles opener against Youssef Abdelaziz (Egypt), winning the tie 11-4, 11-8, 11-10. After racing to a 2-0 lead, the Spanish veteran found himself down 7-10 in the third but managed four points in a row, including the all-important Golden Point, to tilt the match heavily in Goa’s favour.Bernadette also won a Golden point for Goa in the first game against Xiao to give the home team a 4-0 advantage. But Xiao, a five-time Spanish national champion, brought her team back into the contest as she won the match 2-1.The tie was delicately poised at 4-2 when the all-important mixed doubles clash kicked off. Goa, though, quickly regained control as Alvaro, 35, teamed up with Syndrela, 16, to outclass Sathiyan and Xiao in straight games, moving the hosts to the brink of qualification.“I was telling Syndrela all through the game that discipline is the key,” Alvaro said when asked about his constant coaching during the mixed doubles clash. “She is a talented girl and listens to what I have to say. She did an amazing job, notching an important win for the team.”Once Alvaro and Syndrela inflated Goa’s lead to 7-2 games, Abhinandh then showed remarkable composure against Sathiyan, edging the decisive game to seal Goa’s place in Sunday’s final.Result: Dempo Goa Challengers bt Dabang Delhi 8-2; Alvaro Robles bt Youssef Abdelaziz 3-0 (11-8, 11-4, 11-10); Berdanette Szocs lost to Maria Xiao 1-2 (11-10, 6-11, 4-11); Alvaro Robles/Syndrela Das bt Sathiyan Gnanasekaran/Maria Xiao 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-3); Abhinandh PB. bt Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 1-0 (11-9)
