Amalraj, Manika triumph

Petroleum Sports Promotion Board players Anthony Amalraj and Manika Batra emerged champions in the men’s and women’s categories respectively while Karnataka paddler Archana Kamath bagged two medals in the LIC-IOC All India National Ranking Table Tennis Championships (South Zone) at the District Indoor Stadium here on Sunday.

In the men’s final, Amalraj beat top seed and compatriot Achanta Sharath Kamal 4-3 (5-11, 8-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-8, 11-4) while Manika overwhelmed Suthirtha Mukherjee of West Bengal 4-2 (11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 13-11, 11-7) in the women’s title clash.

The triumph earned Amalraj Rs 70,000 in prize purse.

Bengaluru girl Archana settled for silver after she went down to Moumita Datta 6-11, 8-11, 9-11, 6-11 in the youth girls’ final.

She also bagged the bronze in the women’s singles’ category. The youngster lost to Suthirtha 1-4 (11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9) in the semifinal. Archana will play in the junior girls’ quarterfinals on Monday.


Results: Men singles: Final: Anthony Amalraj (PSPB) bt Achanta Sharath Kamal (PSPB) 5-11, 8-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-8, 11-4.

Semifinals: Achanta Sharath Kamal bt Manav Thakkar (PSPB) 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4, 15-13; A Amalraj bt G Sathiyan (PSPB) 11-4, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4.

Youth: Final: Manav Thakkar (PSPB) bt Lalrin Puia (Miz) 11-6, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9.

Semifinals: Manav Thakkar bt Manush Shah (AAI) 11-4, 11-7, 11-5, 11-3; Lalrin Puia bt Peeyush Prasad (Del) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4.

Women singles: Final: Manika Batra (PSPB) Suthirtha Mukherjee (WB) 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 13-11, 11-7.

Semifinals: Manika Batra bt Madhurika Patkar (PSPB) 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 10-12, 11-3; Suthirtha Mukherjee (WB) bt Archana Kamath (PSPB) 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9.

Youth: Final: Moumita Datta (AAI) bt Archana G Kamath (PSPB) 11-6, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6.

Semifinals: Moumita Datta bt Swastika Ghosh (Mah) 11-9, 11-8, 12-10, 11-8; Archana Kamath bt Selenadeepthi Selvakumar (AAI) 11-5, 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5.