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Sport - Table Tennis

PSPB’s domination continues

Amitabha Das Sharma

Dena Bank, Railways succumb

PSPB won both the finals 3-1
It was the 19th title for the men and 18th for the PSPB women

GANGTOK: Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) retained the men’s and women’s team title in the 39th all-India inter-institution table tennis tournament here on Thursday.

The men’s team performed the show of formidability for the 13th year in a row at the expense of Dena Bank, which was making its maiden final appearance.

Having escaped the jaws of defeat in the semifinal, where a youthful Airports Authority of India team almost took the tie away, PSPB was more cautious against another unknown opponent in the final.

Showcasing R. Abhishek, who had single-handedly demolished a powerful Air India, Dena Bank looked to make the most of the chance of winning the title. The Chennai-based team appeared on course initially as Abhishek made the set score 1-1 after E. Prabhakaran had surrendered to the India No. 2 Subhajit Saha in the opening match.

Former National champion Soumyadeep Roy, making a return after an injury lay-off, paid the price of being too aggressive against Abhishek, who kept unerringly retrieving the shots before the former blundered his way out of the match.

In the third match, N. Aditya began well against Aniket Koparkar but failed to hold on to the tempo after winning the first game. Koparkar, playing in his debut season for PSPB, won the next three games to give his team the lead.

Playing without the National champion Achanta Sharath Kamal, PSPB’s existence rested on Subhajit Saha. He did not disappoint, winning against Abhishek.

The former National champion tried a wide array of shots that breached Abhishek’s defence for the first time in the tournament and gave PSPB its 19th title in the bargain.

Shamini shines

National champion K. Shamini showed good form in helping the PSPB’s women’s team to the title. She beat seasoned Anindita Chakraborty to give the defending champion a winning start. Shamini won the opening game easily but lost the second as Anindita used her experience to make a turnaround for Railways.

Shamini regained her sharpness and hit a few forehand winners to unsettle Anindita and packed up the match in the next two games.

Prajakta Tipale gave Railways some hope by making short work of the flamboyant Neha Agarwal in the second match.

Prajakta, ranked eighth in the country, carefully mixed aggression with control to force Neha, the India No. 2, into repeated errors.

Forced to play close to the table Neha struggled to keep her top-spin drives on board and also slipped-up on her services to give her opponent an easy ride to victory.

Eighteenth title

The third match was easy for PSPB as Railways’ Runa Roy failed to match the skills of India No. 4 Madhurika Patkar.

Shamini got through the resistance of Prajakta in the fourth match to ensure the title for PSPB. This was the 18th title for the women’s team.

The results (final):

Men: PSPB bt Dena Bank 3-1 (Subhajit Saha bt E. Prabhakaran 11-6, 11-5, 11-4; Soumyadeep Roy lost to R. Abhishek 9-11, 11-6, 11-5; Aniket Koparkar bt N. Aditya 2-11, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10; Subhajit bt Abhishek 11-1, 13-11, 11-9).

Women: PSPB bt Railways 3-1 (K. Shamini bt Anindita Chakraborty 11-3, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7; Neha Agarwal lost to Prajakta Tipale 9-11, 10-12, 1-11; Madhurika Patkar bt Runa Roy 11-7, 11-6, 11-5; Shamini bt Tipale 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-2).

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