South Zone National-ranking table tennis c'ship: Ankita does it, finally

Ankita Das, who hadn’t won a zonal title in the women’s category, heaved a sigh of relief when she finally managed one in the South Zone National-ranking table tennis championship at the Nehru Indoor Stadium here on Sunday.

A National championship winner in 2014, the 26-year-old PSPB paddler played with better control to outlast teammate Pooja Sahasrabudhe 11-8, 10-12, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6 to bag the women’s crown and a cash prize of Rs. 55,000.

Souyamjit Ghosh won his second title of the season, after the all-India inter-institutional triumph, when he scripted a 3-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8, 2-11, 11-8 victory over Harmeet Desai to clinch the men’s title (Rs. 66,000). It was his clever variations of pace that helped Ghosh outwit his opponent.

Ankita said she owed her success to former National champion S. Raman. “ A few weeks before the inter-institutional event, I trained with Raman here (she went on to reach the final). Even before this event, I trained with him. I can feel the difference as I have gained a lot of confidence too,” she said.

Ghosh said this could be his last National-ranking tournament of the season as he will be playing in the European league.

The last two seasons have been a barren one for Reeth Rishya (PSPB). She finally tasted success, registering a 11-8, 6-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 win over Ayhika Mukherjee (AAI) in the youth girls’ final.

Reeth’s ploy to attack paid dividends. Initially, Ayhika blocked well and was good on the counter too, but slowly the tide turned in Reeth’s favour. She was richer by Rs. 20,000.

The most exciting encounter of the day was the one between Abhishek Yadav and Sudhanshu Grover in the youth boys’ final.

Both played aggressively in what turned out to be a closely-contested final before Abhishek won on his fourth match point. It was heartbreak for Sudhanshu who had a match point too. Abhishek took home Rs. 24,200 for his efforts.

The results: Men: Final: Soumyajit Ghosh (PSPB) bt Harmeet Desai (PSPB) 3-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8, 2-11, 11-8; Semifinals: Ghosh bt G. Sathiyan (PSPB) 11-7, 11-13, 11-2, 2-11, 11-9, 11-6; Harmeet bt Anthony Amalraj (PSPB) 11-8, 11-9, 12-10, 11-3.

Youth boys: Final: Abhishek Yadav (PSPB) bt Sudhanshu Grover (PSPB) 10-12, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6, 15-13; Semifinals: Abhishek bt Ravindra Kotiyan (RSPB) 11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8; Sudhanshu bt Utkarsh Gupta (Del) 6-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2, 11-8.

Women: Final: Ankita Das (PSPB) bt Pooja Sahasrabudhe (PSPB) 11-8, 10-12, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6; Semifinals: Pooja bt Anindita Chakraborty (RSPB) 14-12, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-3; Ankita bt Mouma Das (PSPB) 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8. Youth girls: Final: Reeth Rishya (PSPB) bt Ayhika Mukherjee (AAI) 11-8, 6-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-8; Semifinals: Reeth bt R. Harshavardhini (TN) 10-12, 11-8, 11-3, 11-13, 11-6, 11-6; Ayhika bt Archana Kamath Girish (AAI) 11-3, 7-11, 11-7, 14-12, 11-9.