Ayhika, Nikhat and Madhurika go down fighting

SILIGURI, October 25, 2013: All the top women seeds set the ball in motion by entering the next round at the National Ranking (East Zone) Table Tennis Championships at the Municipal Stadium here today. As expected, the qualifiers had to suffer the brunt of their fancied opponents in the main draw of the women’s singles, falling by the wayside in one-sided first round matches.

On a very pleasant day here, none of the qualifiers had the gumption to put up any noticeable challenge or rising the level of their games. In fact, the Petroleum paddlers yet again proved their superiority, while players representing other institutions really struggled to come anywhere near them. But a few seeded players had to bring out their best to prevail over their rivals.

At least there were a couple of women’s singles matches that kept the audience interested. The one between veteran and sixth seed Anandita Chakraborty and youngster Ayhika Mukerjee went down to the wire with experience overcoming enthusiasm with a 4-3 verdict. But the qualifier, who lost 16-14, 16-18, 11-3, 9-11, 5-11, 11-8, 8-11, had her chance at 8-8 in the decider. But Anandita prevailed taking the necessary three points on the trot to live at least one more round.  Nikhat Banu went down fighting to Tekme Starkar 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 5-11, 11-9, 8-11. Madhurika Patkar also recovered well to beat Prajakta Tipale of LIC 11-5, 6-11, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-1, 11-4.

In other matches, Krittwika Sinha Roy, representing the Airports Authority of India, had the measure of a fighting Shreya Ghosh from the Railway Sports Promotion Board. Krittwika won the duel 4-2 (11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6). However, it must be said to the credit of the Railways girl, who did not give up even after her AAI rival went 3-1 up, showing her character. The AAI paddler has a tough job in the second round as she will face top-seed and national champion K. Shamini next.

It was curtains for Nikita Ghosh from the host association as Divya Deshpande (PSPB) beat her in straight games of 11-5, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8. However, Sayani Bose, also from North Bengal, went down fighting to Soumi Mondal of PSPB 2-4 (11-8, 5-11, 4-11, 11-7, 8-11, 7-11).  Tanaya Dutta too lost to Mouma Das rather poorly (3-11, 2-11, 6-11, 3-11).

Another PSPB’s Manika Batra dropped two games before sewing it up against Dena Bank’s Frenaz Chipia 4-2. Manika will take on Poulomi Ghatak next in the second round. The former national champion had an easy match against Railways Anushree Hazre. Second-seeded Pooja Sahesrabudhe outwitted old warhorse N. Arul Selvi, a qualifier from Dena Bank.  

The first two rounds in men’s main draw will be held later this evening and they will be followed by women’s singles second round matches. With the finals in the men and women’s singles are slated for tomorrow, quarterfinalists will be spotted after tonight’s matches in both the sections.

The Results:

Women: 1st round: Suthirtha Mukherjee (WB) bt Pallavi Kundu (RSPB) 3-1, Mousumi Paul (PSPB) bt SanyaSehgal (Dli) 4-1, Poulomi Ghatak (PSPB) bt Anushree Hazre (RSPB) 4-0, Divya Deshpande (PSPB) bt Nikita Ghosh (NB) 4-0, K. Shamini (PSPB) bt Jaita Pushilal (CRSCB) 4-0, Manika Batra (PSPB) bt Frenaz Chipia (Dena Bank) 4-2, Pooja Sahesrabudhe (PSPB) bt N. Arun Selvi (Indian Bank)4-0, Krittwika Sinha Roy (AAI) bt Shreya Ghosh (RSPB) 4-2, Neha Aggarwal (Dli) bt Sukanya Bose (RSPB) 4-1, Soumi Mondal (PSPB) bt Sayani Bose (NB) 4-2, Mouma Das (PSPB) bt Tanaya Dutta (NB) 4-0, Ankita Das (PSPB) bt Senhora D’Souza (Mah) 4-1, Tekmi Sarkar (RSPB) bt Nikhat Banu (AAI) 4-3, Reeth Tennison (PSPB) bt Mallika Bhandarkar (AI) 4-1, Anandita Chakraborty (RSPB) bt Ayhika Mukherjee (AAI) 4-3, Madhurika Patkar (PSPB) bt Prajakta Tipale (LIC) 4-3.