Maharashtra girls stun Tamil Nadu for U-15 title

Indore (Team Newsbuddy) : Maharashtra scripted a stunning comeback to dethrone defending champions Tamil Nadu 3-2 in a thrilling Youth Girls’ Under-15 final at the UTT 86th Cadet and Sub-Junior National Championships at Abhay Prashal Indoor Hall today.

Naisha Rewaskar delivered when it mattered most, outlasting Tamil Nadu’s Mercy Raja in a nerve-wracking decider in a high-stakes showdown. Mercy, competing in the biggest final of her career, showed grit and determination, keeping Tamil Nadu within touching distance of the title. But Naisha elevated her game in the fifth set, seizing control to seal Maharashtra’s triumph, and upgrading themselves to a gold medal.

Earlier, Ananya gave Tamil Nadu a crucial 2-1 lead, but Maharashtra’s Divyanshi played with patience and precision to outfox Ananya in the fourth rubber, levelling the tie at 2-2. With the title hanging in the balance, Naisha rose to the occasion, securing Maharashtra’s hard-fought victory.

Delhi set the early pace in the semifinals as Dhaani Jain, brimming with confidence, outclassed Naisha Rewaskar 3-0 in the opening rubber. Her crisp shot-making and relentless pressure ensured a straight-game victory, sealed on her second game point. However, Maharashtra’s response was swift and emphatic. Their lead player, Divyanshi, shrugged off the initial setback and imposed her authority against Tushti Sood, winning in commanding fashion.

With the contest delicately poised, Maharashtra seized the initiative in the doubles. Divyanshi and Naisha, feeding off their renewed confidence, dominated Dhaani and Tushti with seamless coordination and aggressive play, completing a resounding 3-0 win to turn the tables at 2-1. Now just one win away from the final, Naisha stepped back into the arena, eager to make amends for her opening defeat. She stormed to a 2-0 lead over Tushti, seemingly in control, before a brief lapse allowed the Delhi player to snatch a game. But Naisha quickly recalibrated, tightening her play to outmanoeuvre Tushti and punch Maharashtra’s ticket to the final with a clinical finish.

In the other semifinal, Tamil Nadu’s Ananya Muralidharan once again proved why she was the team’s backbone. A composed and strategic player, she showcased her fighting spirit in the opening rubber against Bengal’s Aarushi Nandi. The match swung back and forth, with Ananya digging deep to clinch a hard-fought 3-2 victory, giving Tamil Nadu an early edge. However, Bengal countered swiftly through Ankolika Chakraborty, who battled past Mercy Raja in another five-game thriller to level the tie, keeping their hopes alive.

With the contest in balance, Tamil Nadu needed to reassert themselves, and Ananya returned alongside S. Bhuvanidha for the doubles. The duo played with precision and chemistry, overpowering Bengal’s Shreya Dhar and Aarushi Nandi 3-1 to put their team in control again. Now holding a 2-1 lead, Tamil Nadu turned to their talisman, Ananya, for the decisive fourth rubber. Rising to the occasion, she delivered her most dominant performance yet, dismantling Ankolika 3-0 in a near-flawless display to propel Tamil Nadu into the final, securing a guaranteed silver.

Earlier in the quarterfinals, Tamil Nadu survived an early scare against Gujarat, dropping a tie before steadying themselves for a 3-1 victory. Maharashtra, Delhi, and West Bengal, contrastingly made light work of their opponents—Chandigarh, Karnataka, and Haryana—dispatching them ruthlessly to cruise into the semifinals.

Results Team:

Youth Girls U-15: Final: Maharashtra bt Tamil Nadu 3-2 (Divyanshi Bhowmick bt Mercy Raja 11-5, 11-6, 11-6, Naisha Rewaskar lost to Ananya Muralidharan 9-11, 10-12, 4-11, Divyanshi/Naisha lost to Ananya/S Bhuvanidha 11-8, 4-11, 7-11, 7-11, Divyanshi bt Ananya 11-7, 6-11, 11-2, 11-6, Naisha bt Mercy Raja 11-13, 11-3, 11-6, 4-11, 11-2).

Semifinals: Maharashtra bt Delhi 3-1 (Naisha lost to Dhaani Jain 4-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-13, Divyanshi bt Tusthi Sood 11-3, 11-7, 11-8, Divyanshi/Naisha bt Dhaani/Tushti 11-6, 11-9, 11-5, Naisha bt Tushti 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6); Tamil Nadu bt West Bengal 3-0 (Ananya bt Aarushi Nandi 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5, Mercy lost to Ankolika Chakraborty 11-5, 14-12, 6-11, 4-11, 5-11, Ananya/S. Bhuvanidha 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8).

Quarterfinals: Maharashtra bt Chandigarh 3-0, Delhi bt Karnataka 3-0, Tamil Nadu bt Gujarat 3-1, West Bengal bt Haryana 3-0.