Medals assured teams are step away from major glory

Vadodara ( Team Newsbuddy) : The UTT 86th Junior and Youth National Championships at the SAMA Indoor Stadium delivered an electrifying day of table tennis action as Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal advanced to the semifinals. Their gripping quarterfinal victories secured spots in the medal rounds and showcased the depth of talent and determination across all teams.

Maharashtra, the defending champions and one of the top-seeded teams, faced moments of tension despite their eventual triumph. Pritha Vartikar’s opening win gave them a strong start, but a setback from Taneesha Kotecha against Avani Tripathi briefly unsettled the team. However, Sayali’s composed performance under immense pressure, particularly her critical second-game win at 19-17 in the third rubber, proved pivotal. Even as Taneesha struggled, her eventual win over Suhani Mahajan helped Maharashtra cross the finish line in a match that was far more competitive than the scoreline suggested.

Delhi’s journey to the semifinals was equally dramatic, with Vanshika Mudgal playing a decisive role in the final rubber to secure victory over a spirited Gujarat team. Gujarat had pushed Delhi to the brink, with standout performances from Pratha Pawar and Moubani Chatterjee putting the hosts ahead at one stage. However, a rejuvenated Riddhima Kapoor equalized for Delhi in the reverse singles before Vanshika sealed the deal with a 3-1 win.

Tamil Nadu’s Ananya Muralidharan emerged as the star of the day, leading her team to victory with two spectacular singles wins, including a surprising straight games triumph over Haryana’s top player, Suhana Saini. Despite a shaky start with Shriya Anand’s loss, Ananya’s steady performance, coupled with Sharvaani Nagan’s crucial 3-2 win against Saanvi, ensured Tamil Nadu’s passage to the next round. Ananya’s ability to deliver under pressure, especially against a player of Suhana’s calibre, marked her as one of the standout performers of the tournament so far.

West Bengal also faced stiff resistance in their quarterfinal clash, with Syndrela Das and Nandini Saha battling through intense matches to secure their team’s place in the semifinals. Syndrela’s marathon encounter with Arohi Roy ended in her favour, while Nandini staged a remarkable comeback against Sandika Bhattacharjee, turning around a two-game deficit to win in five. Ditsa Roy finally sealed the victory in a hard-fought extended match, underscoring Bengal’s grit and determination.

In the pre-quarterfinals, Maharashtra and Bengal asserted their dominance with quick 3-0 victories, signalling their intent for the title. Tamil Nadu and NCOE, however, faced nail-biting encounters, each edging past their rivals 3-2 in matches that tested their mettle. Tamil Nadu, in particular, found themselves in a tricky position against Karnataka, with Himanshi Chowdhary and Vanshika Deshna leading strong charges. Yet, Tamil Nadu held their nerve, with Ananya and Shriya stepping up in the decisive moments to turn the tide. Similarly, NCOE’s path to victory against Odisha hinged on a crucial third rubber, where Arohi Roy delivered a vital win to keep her team in contention.