Anirban, Sagarika wear sub-junior crowns

New Delhi, December 1, 2012: Anir Ban Ghosh and Sagarika Mukherjee, both of West Bengal, emerged the champions in the sub-junior sections of the National Ranking (North Zone) Table Tennis Championships at the Thyagraj Stadium here today.

In a fitting finale to the event, the two paddlers from West Bengal showed why their stage has become a force to reckon with when it comes to table tennis. Anirban defated Birdie Boro of the PSPB Acdemy 4-2 while Sagarika overcame a stiff resistance from UP's Aishwarya Pathak to lift the title 4-3.

This was Anirban's second sub-junior boys crown this season. He had earlier won it at the South Zone event at Bengaluru. But for Sagarika, it was a fruitful attempt here after some close calls in earlier zonals.  

In the Cadet Boys final, Harsh Srivastava of P SPB Academy defeated Regan Alberqueque of Maharashtra 11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 13-11, 11-8 to win the title while it was Delhi’s Ishita Gupta who blanked out Dia Mukherjee of West Bengal 11-9, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 to wear the crown in the Cadet Girls section. For both Harsh and Ishita it was their maiden title triumphs.

The semifinal match between Anirban and Lalrinpuia, not only went to the wire but turned out to be an intriguing fare where an attacking player and a defensive opponent put up a grand show countering each other so well. The ability of Lalrinpuia to pick anything sent at him and Anirban’s capability to equally match his rival in shots, blocks and jabs besides slowing down the game when required kept everyone interested.

Despite being down 0-2 Anirban was able to stage a fine comeback which spoke volumes of his durability. His powerful forehand often fetched him several winners which in the ultimate analysis proved vital. Eventually, his tactics to tire his opponent out also paid him the dividends as the duel lasted 55 minutes.

Results:

Sub-Junior Boys: Final: Anirban Ghosh (WB) bt Bidie Boro (PSPBA) 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 5-11, 11-3, 12-10;Semifinals: Birdie Boro (PSPBA) bt Manav Thakkar (PSPBA) 12-10, 11-8, 11-8, 11-2, Anirban Ghosh (WB) bt Lalrinpuia (PSPBA) 9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8; Quarterfinals: Birdie Boro (PSPBA) bt Raja Kundu(NB) 11-8, 11-9, 11-9, Lalrin Puia (PSPBA) bt D. Ananthu (TN) 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, Manav Thakkar (PSPBA) bt Chirag Kapoor (PSPBA) 11-3, 11-8, 12-10, Anirban Ghosh (WB) bt Lalhunhula (PSPBA) 11-6, 11-7, 11-6.

 Sub-Junior Girls: Final:Sagarika Mukherjee (WB) bt Aishwarya Pathak (UP) 8-11, 11-13, 5-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8; Semifinals: Sagarika Mukherkjee (WB) bt Priyanka Pareek (Raj) 13-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7, Aishwarya Pathak (UP) bt Varuni Jaiswal (AP) 11-8, 13-11, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 14-12; Quarterfinals: Varuni Jaiswal (AP) CR Harshwardhini (TN) 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 14-12, Priyanka Pareek (Raj) bt Koushami Nath (WB) 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 15-13, Sagarika Mukherjee (NB) bt Srushti Haleangadi (Mah) 11-7, 11-1, 9-11, 11-5, Moumita Dutta (WB) bt Aishwarya Pathak (UP) 11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9.

Cadet Boys: Final: Harsh Srivastava (P SPBA) bt Regan Alberqueque (Mah) 11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 13-11, 11-8; Semifinals: Harsh Srivastava (Raj) bt Shivajit Singh Lamba (Del) 12-10, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, Regan Alberqueque (Mah) bt Anukram Jain (Raj) 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3; Quarterfinals: Shivajit Singh Lamba (Del) bt Saikat Dey (WB) 11-9, 11-8, 11-8, Harsh Srivastava (Raj) bt De Rosario Wesley (Goa) 12-10, 11-6, 11-8, Anukran Jain (Raj) bt Udit Bhattachrya (WB) 11 -7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, Regan Alberqueque (Mah) bt Peeyush Sagar (TN) 9-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-9.

Cadet Girls: Final: Ishita Gupta (Del) bt Dia Mukherjee (WB) 11-9, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5; emifinals: IshitaGupta (Del) bt B. Lashya 11-6, 13-15, 11-6, 16-14, Dia Mukherjee (WB) bt Prapti Sen (WB) 11-7, 14-12, 9-11, 11-5; Quarterfinals:  Prapti Sen (WB) bt Ameesha Dhall (Del) 11-1, 9-11, 11-5, 14-12, Dia Mukherjee (WB) bt Tina Rawat (Ukd) 10-12, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8,  Lasya B. (AP) bt Swetha Steffi (TN) 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 1-11, 11-7, Ishita Gupta 9Del) bt Tulika Roy (WB) 11-9, 11-9, 11-9.

TTFI Press release