Harpal Singh Bedi / New Delhi
Fifth-seeded Vishwa Deenadayalan of Tamil Nadu battled it out to over power spirited over Jeho Himnakulhpuingheta ( Mizoram )4-3 to win the Junior Boys title of the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships (North Zone) at the DPS Hall,Sonepat (Haryana) on Saturday.
In Junior Girls final, top-seed Anusha Kutumbale of Madhya Pradesh prevailed over second seed Swastika Ghosh of Maharashtra 4-2.
In the see-saw Boys final, things were going in favour of the Tamil Nadu boy who led comfortably at 3-1 and looked like emerging an easy winner. But the never-say-die attitude of Jeho kept Vishawa on tenterhooks as the Mizoram boy, cashing in on his opponent’s lapse of concentration and unforced errors, particularly in the sixth game, won the next two to restore parity. In fact, the extended fifth game, which he won against Vishwa gave him the confidence and a real good chance for the last assault in the decider.
However TN boy just slowed down the game and executed some brilliant strokes which pushed Jeho behind somewhat. Yet, the Mizoram lad fought himself back but with a few points separating the two, Vishwa always had the upper hand. In the end, the Tamil Nadu paddler won comfortably to hoist the trophy.
Earlier in the semi-finals, Vishwa overcame state mate Preyesh Raj 4-2 after the left-handed Suresh failed to capitalise on the chances despite having an edge. However, it was a tough outing against Delhi’s Shreyaans Goel who squandered a 3-0 lead when Jeho opened out from the fourth to win the remaining games for a 4-3 verdict.
The Girls final, too, had all the trappings of a tough contest. It was pleasing to see the girl from Madhya Pradesh, who did exceedingly well while trying her hands in women singles the other day, keeping real focus in her category in annexing the title.
Swasitika, on the day, was inconsistent despite levelling the score after the first two games. But when Anusha took a 3-1 lead it was all but over for the Maharashtra girl who managed to take one more game. In the end, Anusha won the extended points in the sixth game to seal her fate.
Results;
Junior Boys: Final: Vishwa Deenadayalan (TN) bt Jeho Himnakulhpuingheta (Miz) 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, 12-14, 3-11, 11-8; Semi-finals: Vishwa Deenadayalan bt Preyesh Suresh Raj (TN) 10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5; Jeho Himnakulhpuingheta bt Shreyaans Goel (Del) 8-11,8-11,10-12, 12-10, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8.
Girls: Final: Anusha Kutumbale (MP) bt Swastika Ghosh (Mah) 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 13-11; Semi-finals: Swastika Ghosh bt Munmun Kundu (WB) 11-6, 13-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-3; Ausha Kutumbale bt Anargaya anjunath (Kar) 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4.