Ankur’s golden hat-trick; Abhinand ends with 2-2-0

Vadodara, (Team Newsbuddy): The 86th UTT Junior and Youth Nationals concluded with a spectacular display of table tennis prowess at the SAMA Indoor Sports Complex, where West Bengal’s rising star Ankur Bhattacharjee cemented his place as the standout performer of the tournament. Clinching his third gold medal, Ankur defeated Tamil Nadu’s P.B. Abhinand 4-1 in the Under-19 Boys Singles final, marking himself as the most decorated player of the event.

Ankur’s remarkable journey saw him lead West Bengal to team gold, followed by triumphs in the singles and doubles categories of the Under-19 section, achieving an impressive sweep of the maximum possible titles. His performance demonstrated not just skill but an unyielding mental fortitude, as he consistently outplayed his opponents with precision and poise.

For 17-year-old Abhinand, the final was a quest for individual glory after his success in the Under-17 categories. Though he fell short against Ankur, his stellar campaign ended with an impressive tally of two golds and two silvers, underscoring his emergence as a significant talent in Indian table tennis.

The Under-19 Singles final unfolded as a battle of grit and guile. Ankur, with his experience and impeccable shot selection, held the upper hand for most of the match. Abhinand, despite his resilience, struggled to match the Bengal lad’s accuracy and commanding gameplay.

The match began on a promising note for Ankur, who claimed the first game comfortably. However, Abhinand struck back with a spirited performance to level the scores. A turning point followed as Ankur edged out a nail-biting third game 13-11, seizing the psychological advantage. From there, the Bengal star maintained his dominance, closing out the fourth and fifth games with identical 11-7 scores to seal the title.

Dominance in Doubles

In the Under-19 Doubles final, it was an all-Bengal affair as Ankur paired with Shankadip Das to defeat teammates Punit Biswas and Oishik Ghosh 3-1. The match showcased moments of brilliance, particularly in the opening exchanges. After splitting the first two games, Ankur and Shankadip turned up the intensity, decisively winning the next two games to claim the gold.

Double Delight

Abhinand found redemption in the Under-17 Singles final, overcoming West Bengal’s Punit Biswas 4-1 in a thrilling contest. With a focused mindset and relentless energy, Abhinand outmanoeuvred his opponent, winning crucial points in extended rallies. After taking an early lead, Abhinand never relinquished control, securing the title with a confident display in the fifth game.

Teaming up with S. Sriram, Abhinand completed his golden double by clinching the Under-17 Doubles title. In a five-game battle, the Tamil Nadu pair fought off a spirited challenge from Delhi’s Atherva Gupta and Sarthak Arya. The decider saw Abhinand and Sriram dominate with strategic placements and sharp reflexes, concluding the match with a resounding finish.

Results:

U-19 Boys Singles: Final: Ankur Bhattacharjee (WB) bt P.B. Abhinand (TN) 11-4, 8-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-7.

Semifinals: Ankur bt Priyanuj Bhattacharyya (Asm) 11-4, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7; Abhinand bt M.R. Balamurugan (TN) 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9.

U-17 Boys Singles: Final: P.B. Abhinand (TN) bt Punit Biswas (WB) 11-9, 3-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9.

Semifinals: Punit bt Piryanuj Bhattacharyya (Asm) 3-0; Abhinand bt Atherva Gupta (Del) 2-0.

U-19 Boys Doubles: Final: Ankur Bhattacharjee/Shankadip Das (WB) bt Punit Biswas/Oishik Ghosh (WB) 12-10, 8-11, 11-4, 11-4.

Semifinals: Ankur/Shankadip bt Priyanuj Bhattacharyya/Divyaj Rajkhowa Roy (Asm) 3-1; Punit/Oishik bt Atherva Gupta/H. Lalruatsanga (Del) 3-0. U-17 Boys Doubles: Final: P.B. Abhinand/S. Sriram (TN) bt Atherva Gupta/Sarthak Arya (Del) 5-11, 11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7. Semifinals: Atherva/Sarthak bt Priyanuj Bhattacharyya/Swapnanil Dutta (Asm) 3-2; Abhinand/Sriram bt Punit Biswas/Rupam Sardar (WB) 3-1.