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Last December, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran found support from an unlikely quarter. With a week to go for the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships in Surat, an ill-prepared Sathiyan realized he was yet to pick a mixed doubles partner for the event. What followed was a last-minute pairing with West Bengals Ankita Das and a gold medal finish. Beyond the gilt-edged outcome, a sombre truth united the players -- both had lost their fathers the previous month.It was the first tournament either of us was playing since our fathers had died, Sathiyan told ESPN in a chat. We both knew exactly what the other was going through. After such a huge loss, any pressure, challenge or outcome seemed small to us. They became the first Indian pair to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships.On Monday, the 23-year-old from Chennai rewrote history books yet again by coming the youngest Indian and only the second after Achanta Sharath Kamal to win an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) title - the Belgium Open. It was a giant leap for the 150-odd ranked player who has been training in Grunwettersbach, Germany, since September and turns out for third-division club TSG Kaiserslautern there. A pro tour title allows you to hope and dream big, he said. A spot in the top 50 is my aim for the next two years now.Sathiyans journey as a table tennis player hasnt been free from moments of self-doubt. Hailing from a conventional family background, a career in sport was considered fickle and frowned upon. Midway through my engineering course I realized that its not what I really wanted to, he said. Table tennis was the only thing that never failed to amaze me.A large share of the plaudits for Sathiyans success has gone to coach S Raman, a former Olympian under whom the player has trained in Chennai for over four years now. Sweet timing has been one of Sathiyans most special facets right from his early years, said Raman. If he adds more muscle power, his shots can be a lot more explosive.Aggressive play has been a recent addition to Sathiyans arsenal and has brought him success already. At the nationals in January, he beat his idol, Sharath Kamal, in the semi-finals.He has grown a lot more aggressive on both flanks, said Raman. Theres still some work that needs to be done though on his serve and physical fitness levels. Serve is the only component that is in your control as a player and one that can help you dictate overall play.Sathiyan will return to Germany for a fortnight in November and then again in March to wrap up the season. He said the European stint had added teeth to his game. Though he ruled out shifting his base to Europe, he hoped for a longer season there next year.Its tough to establish yourself in Europe as every team allows only one Asian, he said. Also to be by yourself in a different country... [it] is difficult to adapt. But thats the sacrifice you make to become a champion.Despite various challenges, Sathiyan managed to complete his engineering degree in 2014, one that possibly cost him a decent head start in the sport. This way, I figured, even if Im injured and my career is cut short, Id at least have the luxury of an option, he said with a laugh. Cheap Vans Shoes From China . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Vans Shoes Clearance . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. http://www.cheapvansfromchina.com/ . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. Cheap Vans Shoes Wholesale . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. Wholesale Vans Shoes . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action.Fernando Alonso says McLarens form has proved a nice surprise at the Australian GP after the team secured arguably their most convincing qualifying result since reuniting with Honda. McLaren arrived in Melbourne amid low-key expectations but the MP4-31 ran in and around the top 10 in practice, before Alonso and Jenson Button qualified 12th and 13th - the teams best joint grid slots in the dry since last Mays Monaco GP.While the car was still 1.5 seconds adrift of Mercedes in Q2, McLarens best lap was a massive five seconds quicker than they managed in qualifying at Albert Park last year when F1s once dominant force propped up the grid. They were also within four tenths of a second of Force India, who finished four places above them in last years Constructors Championship.Alonso described the new car as an obvious step forward from the end of last season, when he experienced a series of troubled races to cap a forgettable year.Im happy with the car and Im enjoying the weekend. I was able to enjoy driving in free practice, a trouble-free weekend for us so far, he said. McLarens Jenson Button thinks that the new qualification system hasnt changed anything but thinks the team are starting the season in a better position It was a very positive step for us and coming back from last year [when] in Mexico I was not able to participate in the race because we had a problem on the formation lap, in Brazil I was in that [deck] chair more time than on the track, and then in Abu Dhabi I started at the back and ran alone all the race.So I came here in Q1 I was third with two sets of supersofts, but in Q2 with the first attempt with everybody on new tyres at the same time I was 10th, 1.dddddddddddd2 seconds off the Mercedes. So definitely a nice surprise.Alonso said that the team should be happy with their winters work, but is aware they are still a long way from achieving their ultimate ambitions.We came out from Barcelona not knowing how the performance was with this car and we were happy and surprised, but still a long way to go, Alonso stressed. We dont want to be 12th and 13th, we want to be first and second, and for that its the biggest step of all when you need to find the last step of performance.But a starting point that makes us happy and proud of the team of how they developed the car over the winter. Ted Kravitz brings you all the latest news from qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix The first race of the 2016 F1 season, the Australian GP, is exclusively live on Sky Sports F1. The race in Melbourne starts at 5am on Sunday. Every race live in 2016 Sky Sports F1 brings you every race live in 2016. Fast and easy online upgrade - click here. Also See: F1s new qualy format slammed Whens the Australian GP on Sky? ' ' '