Bengal, Maharashtra pairs corner glory

By Narendra Bhale

Indore (Team Newsbuddy): Debasis Saha and Abir Basak triumphed in the men’s doubles 60+ category at the UTT 31st Masters National Championships, defeating Vivek Kumar Arora and Subhamoy Chatterjee 3-1 at the Abhay Prashal Indoor Hall. Umesh Vitthal Kumbhojkar and Avinash Joshi replicated the feat in the 65+ category, sealing victory in the final with a 3-1 scoreline.

The finals saw intense exchanges, but the winners displayed better teamwork and control at crucial junctures. Arora and Chatterjee, considered favourites, made a strong comeback by securing the second game. However, Saha and Basak responded with a dominant third game, tightening their grip on the match. Their opponents struggled with net errors and misjudged returns, ultimately surrendering the final to their opponents.

Arora and Chatterjee had eased past Maharashtra’s Sanjay Sripat Jain and Suresh Chandra Gupta in straight games to reach the final. Meanwhile, Saha and Basak had to battle it in a tough semifinal against Sunil Babras and Kapil Kumar, surviving game points in the first and overcoming a setback in the second. They eventually took control of the decider, using their experience to withstand late pressure.

The 65+ final featured an all-Maharashtra clash, where Umesh and Avinash gradually pulled away after splitting the first two games against Panjabi and Kamble. The third game was fiercely contested, but once they edged ahead, they maintained their dominance, sealing the win in the fourth.

Panjabi and Kamble’s journey to the final had been dramatic, as they staged a remarkable comeback against Karnataka’s Chandrasekhar Nooyi and Sharad Khadpe after trailing 0-2. However, their opponents lost rhythm in the decider, allowing the Maharashtra duo to secure their place in the title match. In contrast, Kumbhojkar and Joshi had a smooth ride in their semifinal, comfortably dispatching their Tamil Nadu opponents with an authoritative performance.

With these victories, Bengal and Maharashtra reaffirmed their dominance in the Masters National Championships, demonstrating skill, resilience, and tactical precision. Their performances also sent a clear message to competitors ahead of the final stretch of the tournament. However, both teams remain cautious, aware of Gujarat’s strong presence and potential to disrupt their momentum.

RESULTS:

Men’s Doubles 60+: Debasis Saha/Abir Basak (WB) bt Vivek Kumar Arora/Subhamoy Chatterjee (WB) 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5.

Semifinals: Vivek/Subhamoy bt Sanyaj Sripat Jain/Suresh Chandra Gupta (Mah) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6; Debasis/Abir bt Sunil Babras/Kapil Kumar (Mah) 14-12, 4-11, 11-7, 13-11.

Men’s Doubles 65+: Umesh Vitthal Kumbhojkar/Avinash Joshi (Mah) bt Prakash Panjabi/Rajesh Kamble (Mah) 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-4.

Semifinals: Prakash/Rajesh bt Chandrasekhar Nooyi/Sharad Khadpe (Kar) 9-11, 2-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-3; Umesh/Avinash bt S. Ramalingam/R. Sekar (TN) 11-6, 11-4, 11-8.