Top teams seal their places, second slots on offer

By Narendra Bhale

Indore (Team Newsbuddy): The competition at the UTT 31st Masters National Championships remains intense as the final group matches in the Men’s Team 65+, 70+, and 75+ categories approach. While the battle for the second qualifying spot is still open, the A teams from Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, and TTFI-2 have secured their places in the second stage of the Men’s 65+ category.

In the Men’s 70+ event, the A teams of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu displayed dominant performances, advancing to the knockout rounds. However, the second spot in each group is yet to be confirmed, as some teams remain in contention. Similarly, in the Men’s 75+ category, which consists of four groups, the A teams from Chandigarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu have almost assured their spots at the top. With one round of group matches left, these teams are expected to maintain their positions unless an upset occurs.

Several matches have already delivered thrilling encounters. In Group B, Goa stunned Maharashtra with a 3-2 victory. Kashinath Khalap set the tone by defeating Chandrakant Mainkar, but John Bento’s loss to Kamesh Vishnu Bhonde allowed Maharashtra to level the score. Goa regained the lead in doubles with John and Kashinath overcoming Chandrakant and Kamesh in a closely contested match. Although Chandrakant managed to equalize again with a straight-game win over John, Kashinath sealed the tie with a dominant victory over Kamesh, completing an impressive win for Goa.

Tamil Nadu also faced a strong challenge from Madhya Pradesh, who pushed them to the limit. Santosh Kaushik played a crucial role for the hosts, securing both his singles matches, but their loss in the doubles proved decisive. Tamil Nadu’s John Peter finally sealed the match with a commanding victory over Bhagchand.

The women’s competition has been equally competitive, with several teams fighting for qualification. Hosts Madhya Pradesh secured two important wins to top Group A, while West Bengal, in a four-team group, leads the standings with two victories. The race for the second qualifying spot in Group A is between Gujarat and Maharashtra, while Telangana and Karnataka will battle for the second place in Group B.

In the Women’s 65+ category, Maharashtra’s A team has advanced to the second stage with two wins and now awaits the second qualifier from the group. Karnataka and Delhi, with one victory each, remain in contention, while Maharashtra B still needs to secure full points to keep their hopes alive. With key matches ahead, teams are preparing for a fierce contest to secure their places in the next stage.