State girls win first title

Karnataka girls recorded a come-from-behind win to lift their maiden crown in the Sub-junior section of the 76th Cadet and Sub-Junior National Table Tennis
Championships in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday.

Led by the determined duo of Archana Kamath and Kushi Vishwanath, the team rallied to beat Tamil Nadu 3-2 in the final to lift the title.

Though Tamil Nadu enjoyed a upper hand in the initial stages of the closely fought final, winning the opening two ties, the Karnataka girls, backed by their never-say-die attitude mounted an exciting comeback to win the crown.

Tamil Nadu were 2-0 ahead when Yashini Sivshankar defeated Archana 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-4 and Selenadeepthi Selvakumar got past Kushi 11-6, 9-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9.

Karnataka’s fortunes turned around when Archana and Kushi combined well in the doubles, winning a closely fought tie 11-4, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7 against Selena and Yashini.

The duo continued the momentum into the reverse singles. Archana levelled proceedings for Karnataka, defeating Selena 11-7, 11-4, 11-13, 11-7 in a match that saw several rallies.

With the team scores level at 2-2, the onus was on Kushi to bring out her best against Yashini, who is a higher ranked player. But Kushi, went on the attacking mode right from the word go and it paid her rich dividends. Attacking on both flanks and playing close to the table, Kushi forced Yashini on the backfoot and went 2-0 up.

But in the next game, Yashini came back well and when it looked as if she would take the rubber to the decider, Kushi played some brilliant backhand shots, successfully indulging in long rallies. Kushi managed to keep the ball in play, forcing her opponent to commit errors, taking the game and the match 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9.

Results: Boys: Sub Junior: Final: PSPB ‘A’ bt Telangana 3-1. Semifinals: PSPB ‘A’ bt Delhi  3-2; Telangana bt Goa 3-0.

Cadet: Final: PSPB ‘A’ bt Maharashtra ‘A’ 3-0.
Girls: Sub Junior: Final: Karnataka bt Tamil Nadu 3-2 (Archana Kamath lost to Yashini Sivshankar 6-11, 11-6, 6-11, 4-11; Kushi Viswanath lost to Selena Deepthi Selvakumar 6-11, 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 9-11; Archana & Kushi bt Selena Deepthi & Yashini 11-4, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7; Archana Kamath bt Selenadeepthi Selvakumar 11-7, 11-4, 11-13, 11-7; Kushi Viswanath bt Yashini Sivashankar 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9). Semifinals: Tamil Nadu bt Telanagana 3-0; Karnataka bt Maharashtra ‘A’ 3-0.
Cadet: Final: Maharashtra ‘A’ bt Delhi 3-1 . Semifinals: Maharashtra ‘A’ bt Tamil Nadu 3-0; Delhi bt Karnataka 3-0.