Boro, Suamana are Sub-Junior National TT champs

Kochi, December 13, 2011: Birdie Boro of the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB-A) emerged the champion in the sub-junior boys’ section beating Anirban Ghosh 4-3 (7-11, 7-11,11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10,11-5) while it was West Begal’s Sumana Saha outlasted her statemate and unseeded Moumita Das 4-1 (11-4, 13-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-4) to take the girls’ crown at the New Assurance 73 rd Cadet and Sub-Junior National Table Tennis Championships at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium here today.

The winners took a cheque of Rs 26,000 and Rs. 22,000, respectively, while the runners-up took home Rs 13,000 (Boys) and Rs 11,000 (girls) sections, respectively. But more than the money, the winners earned some vital points which should help them go up the ladder in future meets.

As was to be expected, the boys’ singles final had all the ingredients and befittingly the better player from PSPB-A won at the end of the day. But it must be said to the credit of Boro who, after being down 2-1 at one stage and again 3-2, showed grit to stage a remarkable comeback and win the last three games.

Employing great attacking shots and using both back and forehand smashes to greater effect, West Bengal’s Ghosh began in great style. With his No. 1 seed and taller PSPB-A opponent losing rhythm, Ghosh went about his way smashing everything that was within and without his reach to move ahead. In between, Boro managed to take game of Ghosh to stay afloat. But in the fourth game, it was Ghosh who after taking a sizeable lead shut Boro out with a forehand close-to-the-table smash to go 3-1 up.

It was at this juncture that Boro regrouped himself well and seeing his opponent tiring, thanks to hot and humid conditions inside the hall, went into cruise mode to take the next two games to level the score at 3-3. Once pushed to the brink, it was up to Boro to show his true attacking colours and he succeeded in spite of making a couple of unforced errors in the decider. Nevertheless, Ghosh too was unable to withstand the onslaught and wilted under pressure, often unable to put the ball beyond the net. That gave several crucial points to Boro who simply smashed his way to the title.

Boro, understandably, was relieved after winning against Ghosh. “I had at the back of my mind the loss we suffered in the team championships because of Anirban. I had to set the record straight and I am happy I did exactly that,” said Boro after winning the title.

As for the girls final, it was a foregone conclusion that the No. 7 seed Saha would win. But it was a question of whether or not Moumita will be able to take a game or two off her friend at home and a bitterest rival on court. Das did manage to take a game off her rival but before she could gain any ascendancy, Saha stuck to her task and took the crown.

The Results: Sub-junior Boys: Final:Birdie Boro (PSPB-A ) bt Anirban Ghosh (WB) 7-11, 7-11,11-6, 9-11, 11-5. 12-10,11-5; Semi-finals: Birdie Boro (PSPB-A) bt Arjun Ghosh (WB) 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 7011, 10-12, 11-8, 11-2; Anirban Gosh (WB) bt Ayush Tayal (Har) 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7; Quarterfinals: Anirban Ghosh (WB) bt Lalrin Puia (PSPB-A) 11-2, 11-8, 12-14, 11-6, 11-9; Arjun Ghosh (WB) bt Lalhun Lua (PSPB-A) 11-3, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5; Ayush Tayal (Har) bt Manav Thakkar (Guj) 11-7, 11-4, 7-11, 11-9, 11-1; Birdie Boro (PSPB-A) bt Ananth D (TN) 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7.

Sub-junior Girls: Final: Sumana Saha (WB) bt. Moumita Dutta (WB) 11-4, 13-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-4; Semi-finals: Moumita Das (WB) bt Priyadarshini Das (WB) 6-11, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10, 15-13, 11-5; Sumana Saha (WB) bt Harsha Vardhani (TN) 4-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5, 11-8; Quarterfinals: Priyadarshini Das (WB) bt Varuni Jaiswal (AP) 10-12, 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, 17-15, 11-4. 11-7; Moumita Dutta (WB) bt Johita Banerjee (WB) 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 3-11, 11-9, 11-5; Harsha Vardhini (TN) bt Koushani Nath (WB) 9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 12-10, 12-10, 11-6; Sumana Saha (WB) bt Sagorika Mukherjee (WB) 11-8, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9.

A TTFI Press Release