Karnataka boys, girls hunt continues

UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships

Bengaluru (Team Newsbuddy) : The fifth day of the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru was nothing short of electrifying, especially in the Under-15 Youth Boys and Girls categories, where several matches reached their climax in high-stakes encounters. With the medal rounds drawing closer, the grit and determination displayed by these young athletes left spectators in awe.

The Karnataka boys, in particular, showcased both talent and resilience. Siddhanth Dhariwal displayed sheer dominance over Aarav Acharya of Rajasthan, wrapping up the match with a straight-set victory of 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 12-10). Similarly, Athatwa Nawrange outclassed Tamil Nadu’s Jishnu Balaji, winning convincingly with a scoreline of 11-8, 11-7, 11-3. However, Karnataka’s streak saw a setback when Gaurav Gowda fell victim to the tactical brilliance of Trishal Raj from PSPB Academy in a match that demonstrated the Academy player’s calculated approach.

One of the standout performances came from Parth Prabhakar of NCOE, who engaged in a marathon match against Sinai Caro Chandan of Goa. The thrilling five-setter had the audience on the edge of their seats, with Parth ultimately prevailing 8-11, 11-3, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7. The fourth game proved pivotal, tilting the momentum in Parth’s favour and showcasing his mental fortitude.

The second half of the boys’ draw brought excitement, featuring several close finishes. Vadya Chawla of Chandigarh held his nerve against Tamil Nadu’s Visruth Ramakrishnan, clinching the match 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8. Vadya capitalized on his opponent’s unforced errors, especially in the decisive fifth game. Meanwhile, Haryana’s Eshaan Nayak demonstrated exceptional composure in his match against West Bengal’s Koustab Chakraborty, coming from behind to win 11-13, 11-8, 5-11, 12-10, 11-9.

Abeek Kashyap from Assam showcased his attacking prowess against PSPBA’s Dhairya Rawat, delivering a clinical performance to win 7-11, 11-3, 9-11, 12-10, 11-1. On the other hand, PSPBA’s Vivaan Dave made quick work of Karnataka’s Keshav Shashank Rao, securing a dominant 3-0 victory to enter the pre-quarterfinals. Ritvik Gupta, the second seed from Jammu and Kashmir, displayed his class with a commanding win over Karnataka’s Aarnav Naveen, finishing the match 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-1.

In the girls’ category, the intensity matched the boys’ matches, with several players pushing their limits. Adrita Das of NCOE emerged victorious in a closely contested match against West Bengal’s Shariqa Shahid, winning 3-2. Similarly, Bengal’s Moubani Chatterjee followed up with another thrilling 3-2 victory over Maharashtra’s Surna Jangade, displaying her ability to handle pressure in tight situations.

Delhi’s Aarna Gauhar also pulled off a hard-fought win, edging out Haryana’s Tanmayee Saha 3-2 in a match that swung back and forth before Aarna’s decisive moves in the final set secured her victory.

The home crowd found a reason to cheer as Karnataka’s Hiya Singh delivered a spirited performance against West Bengal’s Aarushi Nandi, winning 11-9, 3-11, 11-6, 11-8. Hiya’s aggressive gameplay and tactical adjustments ensured her victory, warming the hearts of the local fans. However, her Karnataka teammate Kaira Baliga couldn’t replicate the success, as she succumbed to Delhi’s Tushti Sood after a brief resistance. Tushti triumphed 4-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-4, showcasing her adaptability and control over the game.

Results:

Youth Boys Singles U-15: Round 32: Aditya Das (WB) bt Himon Mondala (WB) 3-0; Siddhanth Dhariwal (Kar) bt Aarav Acharya (TTFI-1) 3-0; Prateek Tulsani (Mah) bt Dharma Teja Sai (Telg) 3-1; Atharwa Nawrange (Kar) bt Jishnu Balaji (TN) 3-0.