Grover, Yang win Junior crowns

Mumbai, October 20, 2013:  It was so near and yet so far. Sagarika Mukherjee almost came to breaching the China wall, but finished as the runner-up in the Junior Girls singles at the $8,000 Reliance India Junior and Cadet Open at the NSCI Stadium here today.  

China’s Yanmei Yang, keeping her reputation here intact, beat the Indian 4-3 (11-6, 11-2, 11-4, 14-16, 9-11, 5-11, 12-10) in a thriller that had all the ingredients of a final. Yang received the winner’s purse of $1000, while Sagarika earned $500 for her effort.

In the Junior Boys category, India’s Sudhanshu Grover defeated compatriot Abhishek Yadav 4-1 (11-2, 16-14, 12-10, 4-11, 11-7) to take home $1000. While Grover upped his game, befitting the occasion, southpaw Yadav was not in his elements at all. That reflected in his game and Grover, on the other hand, never missed any opportunity that came his way. Attacking from both flanks, he kept Yadav engaged with short rallies and whenever opportunities presented he went for the kill.

Incidentally, Grover had won back-to-back titles, at the Central and West zone events, before coming to the event. Riding on his form, he has already ensured that he claimed the title here and this should put him in a better frame of mind when he goes to Morocco in December for the World Juniors. Grover is the only male Indian paddler who will represent the country in the singles event there.   

Chinese on back foot

Nobody gave a semblance of chance to Sagarika, particularly after the way she down and out, trailing 0-3 and 2-4 in the fourth game. But a determined Sagarika not only surprised the entire crowd at the stadium but even the Chinese who was forced on her back foot. Even those variations she employed in her serves failed to get her anywhere as Sagarika won the extended game 16-14 after some real fight and a few rallies.

Sagarika’s ploy of block and attack method worked in her favour as the Chinese, frustrated by the Indian’s slow game, made far too many mistakes. Sagarika took the next two games to the roar of the crowd. The Indian was very much in her groove and went 7-4 up in the decider only to allow her rival come back in the match. Another extended game this time saw the Chinese making amends to win the crown.  

Earlier in the semifinals, Sagarika picked herself up well after being down 1-3 to take her Chinese rival Anqi Li the full distance and win the match 11-7, 5-11, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9 with pin-pointed precision.

Sagarika prevails

Brave-heart Sreeja Akula saved four championships point to level the score and even went 7-4 up in the decider of the Cadet Girls final. However, once Sagarika Mukherjee levelled the score at 7-7 the cool-headed West Begal girl finished off in style to win the title. Nevertheless, credit must go to Sreeja for the way she staged her comeback to give some real scary moments to Sagarika who won 3-2.

The Cadet Boys final failed to match the excitement of Cadet Girls’ final as Birdie Boro, ranked several rungs below at 245, steamrolled Arjun Ghosh (189) in straight sets.

Ghosh, though put up some late resistance in an extended third game, it was too late too little for him. Boro, playing an attacking close-to-the-table game won several winners with his blistering shots. Ghosh, on the other hand, was more subdued and failed to show the kind of enthusiasm he had shown earlier in the semifinals.

Results:

Junior Boys: Singles Final: Sudhanshu Grover bt Abhishek Yadav 4-1 (11-2, 16-14, 12-10, 4-11, 11-7); Semifinals: Abhishek Yadav bt Lalrin Puia 4-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-5, 11-8), Sudhanshu Grover bt Utkarsh Gupta 4-0 (12-10, 12-10, 11-8, 11-3).

Doubles: Final: Sameera Kumar/Rohit Rajasekhar bt Sudhanshu Grovere/Abhishek Yadav 3-0 (15-13, 11-6, 11-7).

Junior Girls: Singles Final: Yanmei Yang (CHN) bt Sagarika Mukherjee 4-3 (11-6, 11-2, 11-4, 14-16, 9-11, 5-11, 12-10); Semifinals: Sagarika Mukherjee bt Anqi Li (CHN) 4-3 (11-7, 5-11, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9), Yanmei Yang (CHN) bt Xiaotong Sun (CHN) 4-1 (11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5).

Doubles: Final: Ayhika Mukherjee/Suthirtha Mukherjee bt Manika Batra/Reeth Tennison 3-1 (11-5, 10-12, 12-10, 11-3).

Cadet Boys: Singles Final: Birdie Boro bt Arjun Ghosh 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 16-14; Semifinals: Arjun Ghosh bt Anirban Ghosh 3-1 (11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9), Birdie Boro bt Yuhao Wang (CHN) 3-1 (11-5, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7).

Doubles: Final: Arjun Ghosh/Ayush Tayal bt Birdie Boro/Anirban Ghosh 3-2 (11-8, 4-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9).

Cadet Girls: Singles Final: Sagarika Mukherjee bt Sreeja Akula 3-2 (13-11, 11-13, 11-8, 17-19, 11-9); Semifinals: Sagarika Mukherjee bt Srushti Haleangadi 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-6), Sreeja Akula bt CR Harshavardhini 3-2 (7-11, 5-11, 15-13, 11-6, 11-2).

Doubles: Final: Sreeja Akula/CR Harshavardhini bt Shruti Amrute/Naina 3-0 (12-10, 11-8, 11-4).

A TTFI Press release

Sagarika breaches Chinese bastion

Mumbai, October 20, 2013: In the face of a Chinese invasion Sagarika Mukherjee made India proud when outsmarted Anqi Li to enter the finals of the Junior Girls category at the $8,000 Reliance India Junior and Cadet Open at the NSCI Stadium here today.

The Indian will take on Yanmei Yang in the final to be played later this evening. Yang defeated compatriot Xiaotong Sun 4-1 in the other semifinal.

Ranked 146 in the world, Sagarika was down 1-3 and almost looked out when she upped the ante to take her Chinese rival the full distance and win 11-7, 5-11, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9 with pin-pointed precision to seal her final spot.

The West Bengal lass despite taking the first game rather easily, failed to counter the pace of Li whose close-to-the-table shots brooked little challenge from Sagarika. In the crucial fifth game, Sagarika forced Li play into her hands by slowing down the pace. Unable to come to terms with Sagarika’s push-and-prod game with sudden forehand winners, Li was rattled enough to lose the extended game.

That was the time when Sagarika raised her game a notch higher and reeling under the pressure Li slowly but surely wilted, and allowed the Indian first level the score at 3-3 before turning on the heat in the decider which Sagarika won with minimum points.

As for the Junior Boys fare, Abhisheh Yadav and Sudhanshu Grover will meet in the final, also to be played this evening. Both Yadav and Grover blanked out their rivals, Lalrin Puia and Utkarsh Gupta, by an identical margin of 4-0.

Sagarika also reached the Cadet Girls final and she will play Akula Sreeja while in the Cadet Boys category, Arjun Ghosh and Birdie Boro will cross swords.  

Results:

Junior Boys: Singles Semifinals: Abhishek Yadav bt Lalrin Puia 4-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-5, 11-8), Sudhanshu Grover bt Utkarsh Gupta 4-0 (12-10, 12-10, 11-8, 11-3).

Junior Girls: Singles Semifinals: Sagarika Mukherjee bt Anqi Li 4-3 (11-7, 5-11, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9), Yanmei Yang (CHN) bt Xiaotong Sun (CHN) 4-1 (11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5).

Cadet Boys: Singles Semifinals: Arjun Ghosh bt Anirban Ghosh 3-1 (11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9), Birdie Boro bt Yuhao Wang (CHN) 3-1 (11-5, 11-13, 11-9, 11-7).

Cadet Girls: Singles Semifinals: Sagarika Mukherjee bt Srushti Haleangadi 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-6), Akula Sreeja bt CR Harshavardhini 3-2 (7-11, 5-11, 15-13, 11-6, 11-2).

A TTFI Press release

Indian boys and Chinese girls on top

Mumbai, October 19, 2013: It will be an all-India affair in the Junior Boys category while it will be the reverse of sorts in the Junior Girls section with three Chinese making the semifinal grade at the $8,000 Reliance India Junior and Cadet Open at the NSCI Stadium here today.

In a way, the Junior Girls fare was along expected lines with the lone Indian survivor being Sagarika Mukherjee, who was fortunate to run against Indian Narasimha Priya. But the biggest question staring at the Indian is can she survive the Chinese onslaught tomorrow. However, Suthirtha’s brave effort on the day was not enough to stop the Chinese juggernaut.

Nevertheless, the losses suffered by the girls were made up by the domination of hosts' Junior Boys. Utkarsh Gupta had to bring out all his experience to the fore to outwit his higher ranked rival Arjun Ghosh 4-2 in a thrilling quarterfinal duel in the Junior Boys section at the He will take on a rampaging Sudhanshu Grover, who disposed of Birdie Boro in straight games, in the semifinals tomorrow. In the other semifinal, Abhishek Yadav, who outclassed Yuhao Wang (CHN) 4-0 (12-10, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9) will clash with Lalrin Puia.

Except for the Utkarsh-Arjun encounter, the other quarterfinals were more or less one-sided with the fancied players going through without hiccups. Abhishek Yadav didn’t waste any time in rolling over his Chinese rival Yuhao Wang with a 4-0 verdict and Lalrin Puia, with his fine ability to wear out opponents, defeated Nishaad Shah 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 in a defensive match that saw long rallies and the never-say-die attitude of the two players. Yet, it was Puia who won the day.

No. 261 ranked Utkarsh, who won 12-10, 8-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8, began in right earnest to take the extended game only to lose the next two to Arjun, ranked 189 in the world. But the Delhi boy stopped his rival on his track with an excellent attacking game to level the score. The intensity of the fourth game could be gauged as he used the flanks well to rattle Arjun. The cautious and confident Utkarsh went all out, serving and returning well, to take the next two games to book his semifinal berth.

Narasimha Priya could not take advantage of her draw as she bowed out in the quarterfinals of the Junior Girls section, losing to Sagarika Mukherjee, ranked 146 in the world. The West Bengal girl won 4-2 after raising the standard in the fifth and six games. Though Priya took the first game 11-7, she couldn’t come to terms with the pace set by Sagarika who surged to a 2-1 lead. In the fourth, however, Priya put up her best resistance with some excellent winners. And that was all she could do as Sagarika turned on the heat to earn the semifinal spot.

Chinese Anqi Li accounted for Senhora D’Souza 4-1 and will meet Sagarika Mukherjee in the first semifinal while the second semifinal will be between Yanmei Yang and compatriot Xiaotong Sun, who beat Indian Mallika Bhandarkar 4-1.

Results:

Junior Boys: Quarterfinals: Sudhanshu Grover bt Birdie Boro 4-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10), Utkarsh Gupta bt Arjun Ghosh 4-2 (12-10, 8-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8), Abhishek Yadav bt Yuhao Wang (CHN) 4-0 (12-10, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9, Lalrin Puia bt Nishaad Shah 4-1 (9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9).

Junior Girls: Quarterfinals: Anqi Li (CHN) bt Senhora D’Souza 4-1 (9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7, 11-5), Sagarika Mukherjee bt Narasimha Priya 4-2 (7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5), Yanmei Yang (CHN) bt Mallika Bhandarkar 4-2 (11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-2), Xiaotong Sun (CHN) bt Suthirtha Mukherjee 4-2 (10-12, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-4).

Cadet Boys: Quarterfinals: Anirban Ghosh bt Ayush Tayal 3-2 (8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7), Birdie Boro bt Beizeng Wang (CHN) 3-1 (7-11, 11-8, 17-15, 11-6), Arjun Ghosh bt Huabing He (CHN) 3-1 (11-8, 14-12, 7-11, 11-9), Yuhao Wang (CHN) bt Lalhunhlua 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-4).

Doubles: QF: Lalhunhlua/Lalrin Puia bt Salah Al-Balooshi/Abdulla Albalooshi (UAE) 3-1, Beizeng Wang/Yuhao Wang (CHN) bt Sail Alfalasi (UA)/Shaurya Pednekar 3-0, Arjun Ghosh/Ayush Tayal bt Hammed Osibanjo (NGR)/Siddesh Mukund 3-0.

Cadet Girls: Quarterfinals: Sagarika Mukherjee bt Aishwarya Pathak 3-1 (13-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-3), Srushti Haleangadi bt Moumita Dutta 3-1 (11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9), CR Harshavardhani bt Ashlesha Trehan 3-1 (11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8), Sreeja Akula bt Shruti Amrute 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-3).

Doubles: QF: Shruti Amrute/Naina bt Srushti Haleangadi/Dyuti Patki 3-2; Desiree Hung (HKG)/Aishwarya Pathak bt Mansi Chhajed/Ashelesha Trehan 3-2.

A TTFI Press release

Narasimha Priya topples Manika, gets direct QF entry

Mumbai, October 18, 2013: Unseeded Narasimha Priya not only upset Manika Batra, ranked 30 in the world, with a 3-2 (11-9, 1-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7) verdict in a group 1 league match of the Junior Girls section, but also ensured herself a direct entry into the quarterfinals of the $8,000 Reliance India Junior and Cadet Open at the NSCI Stadium here today. 

  

Narasimha Priya, a last-minute replacement for Karnam Spoorthy in the championships, made most of the occasion to overcome the higher ranked Delhi player, who has had a mixed form so far. Manika’s inability to top the group also meant that she will have a faceoff with Chinese Xiaotong Sun first thing tomorrow morning. Priya, on the other hand, will have the advantage of avoiding one of the three Chinese in fray until the semifinals. Though Priya has one Chinese, Anqi Li, in her half she is safe until the last-four stage.

Narasimha Priya, who topped Group 1 started the match in a pulsating manner, winning the first game with minimum points. But the Chennai girl was rather too bad in the next in which she just about managed a solitary point as Manika finished off in double quick time. Priya went 2-1 up soon aftger before Manika took the next to level the score. In the decider, however, it was Priya all the way as too many unforced errors at the net by Manika saw the Chennai girl roll over her opponent.

“I was blocking well and my forehand shots fetched some crucial points for me today,” said Priya about her decider. “I went blank completely. I don’t know what happened,” added Priya about her second game which she lost badly.

With 108 singles matches in all four categories put together scheduled for the day, the paddlers had a bush day. As for the notable players, including the Chinese in the Junior Girls sections, their progress into the next stage was rather easy. Indeed, a few group matches did go the full distance, creating some excitement among the crowd.

Suthirtha Mukherjee, who led her group 2, too received a bye into the quarterfinals along with Senhora D’Souza while Yanmei Yang (China) from group 3 too benefited with a direct quarterfinal entry from the other half.

In Junior Boys section, where a lone Chinese Yuhao Wang made it to the main draw, both Sudhanshu Grover and Abhishek Yadav have been directly placed in the quarterfinals while the rest will the round of 16.

In Cadet Girls, Akul Sreeja, Sagarika Mukherjee, Moumita Dutta, CR Harshavardhini, Srushti Halengadi, Ashlesha Trehan, Shruti Amrute and Aishwaria Pathak have made it to the main draw while in Cadet Boys, Anirban Ghosh, Lalhunhlua, Yuhao Wang, Arjun Ghosh, Huabing He, Birdie Boro, Beizeng and Ayush Tayal all entered the main draw.  

A TTFI Press release

Chinese eat into Indian medal, money shares

Mumbai, October 17, 2013: A minor Chinese incursion was good enough to deprive the hosts a clean sweep of team gold medals at the Reliance India Junior and Cadet Open as the visitors made a short work of India A in the Junior Girls section to take the yellow metal in the $8,000 event at the NSCI Stadium here today.  

The two unranked Chinese Yanmei Yang and Anqi Li surprised India A’s Manika Batra and  Suthirtha Mukherjee, both ranked No. 30 and No. 60 in the world respectively, for the second time in two days to win the final 3-1 and earn $500 for their fine efforts. The other three categories saw the hosts winning the remaining three gold medals and a major share of the prize money.

In fact, all the silver medals went the hosts’ way with a few bronze—losing semifinalists get bronze—too falling into their laps to make larger booty for India.

However, one sad aspect of the team championships will be the loss by India A girls as they failed to pick themselves up in the face of a good, calculated assault by the two Chinese girls. Appearing on the international scene for the first time, both the paddlers showed why they are the world-beaters in this sport.

Manika started on a brave note, attacking from both flanks, to win her first two games against Anqi Li. But the Chinese, surprised by Manka’s attacking game slowed down a bit to upset the Indian’s rhythm. It seemed to have worked well for Li who took the next game, but a cautious Manika put an end to the Chinese design by winning the fourth to take the first rubber 5-11, 5-11, 11-6, 5-11.

But Suthirtha, the weak link in the team, could not measure up to the pace of Yanmei Yang. The latter just mowed her down in straight games after rattling her in the first in less than six minutes at 11-3. However hard Suthirtha tried in the next games, she was not able to counter those scorching forehands from Yang.

With the doubles rubber too in their pocket, it was left to Li to take on Manika in her reverse singles. Manika had the measure of her opponent, leading 2-0 in the fourth rubber. But she lost her way with several unforced errors in the third game which Li took 12-10 to trail 1-2. This was when the Chinese aggression showed its way and Li just allowed three points to her opponent in the game. With the gold just a game away, Li’s pounding with crucial winners brooked little challenge from Manika.

The India A combine of Abhishek Yadav and Sudhanshu Grover defeated Chinmay Vinod and Sanish Ambekar of India E 3-0 without any inhibition in the Junior Boys final. In fact, no one expected the unranked Vinod and Ambekar to roll their opponents over, but in the semifinals they had already spoilt the reputation of Utkarsh Gupta (261) and Sabhya Virmani(380). The two world-ranked Delhi players surrendered meekly to the guiles of Vinod and Sanish.

 Though the Cadet Boys’ and Girls’ gold medals went to India A teams, the Cadet Boys semifinal saw an interesting duel between India C and India B which the former won 3-1. India B’s Ayush Tayal and Arjun Ghosh, who were in great form until them, bowed out in the semifinals when Lalrin Puia and Lalhunhlua, the two boys from Mizoram, playing excellent games to outwit the experienced Tayal and Ghosh. Puia, in particular, proved to be a hard nut to crack as he won both his singles to pave their way into the final.

In the Cadet Girls’, India A’s Calange Ravichandran and Sagarika Mukherjee beat India B’s Moumita Dutta and Sreeja Akula 3-1. The later, giving a good fight, managed to win the doubles.

The Results:

Junior Boys:  Final: India A bt India E 3-0 (Sudhanshu Grover bt Chinmay Vinod 11-9, 11-8, 11-6, Abhishek Yadav bt Sanish Ambekar 11-4, 11-5, 11-7, Grover/Yadav bt Sanish/Vinod 11-5, 12-10, 11-8; Semi-finals: India A bt India C 3-0 (Abhishek Yadav bt Rohit Rajasekhar 6-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-6, Sudhanshu Grover bt Sameera Kumar 12-10, 11-7, 4-11, 11-6, Yadav/Grover bt Rohit/Sameera 11-2, 11-8, 11-8; India E bt India B 3-1 (Chinmay Vinod bt Sabhya Virmani 11-7, 12-10, 11-9, Sanish Ambekar bt Utkarsh Gupta 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 14-12, Sanish/Vinod lost to Sabhya/Utkarsh 12-10, 7-11, 9-11, 3-11, Chinmay Vinod bt Utkarsh Gupta 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.

Junior Girls: Final: China bt India A 3-1 (Anqi Li lost to Manika Batra 5-11, 5-11, 11-6, 5-11, Yanmei Yang bt Suthirtha Mukherjee 11-3, 11-8, 11-8, Li/Yang bt Manika/Suthirtha 11-6, 11-4, 11-8, Yanmei Yang bt Manika Batra 8-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-3, 11-5; Semi-finals: China bt China-India 3-0 (Anqi Li bt Senhora D’Souza 14-12, 11-4, 11-8, Yanmei Yang bt Xiaotong Sun 11-7, 11-3, 9011, 11-8, Li/Yang bt D’Souza/Sun 11-4, 11-7, 11-7; India A bt India B 3-0 (Manika Batra bt Ayhika Mukherjee 5-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-6, Suthirtha Mukherjee bt Reeth Tennison 11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9, Manika/Suthirtha bt Ayhika/Reeth 11-9, 13-15, 12-10, 11-9.

Cadet Boys: Final: India A bt India C 3-1 (Birdie Boro lost to Lalhunhlua 4-11, 7-11, 8-11, Anirban Ghosh bt Lalrin Puia 11-9, 11-8, 11-5, Boro/Ghosh bt Lalhunhlua/Puia 11-8, 11-6, 11-6, Anirban Ghosh bt Lalhunhlua 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-8; Semi-finals: India A bt China 3-1 (Birdie Boro bt Yuhao Wang 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 13-11, Anirban Ghosh bt Beizeng Wang 11-9, 12-10, 6-11, 11-13, 11-7, Boro/Ghosh lost to Yuhao/Beizeng 4-11, 6-11, 11-13, Anirban Ghosh bt Yuhao Wang 14-12, 8-11, 11-9, 5-11, 12-10; India C bt India B 3-1 (Lalhunhlua bt Arjun Ghosh 11-9, 11-7, 11-8, Lalrin Puia bt Ayush Tayal 11-6, 11-6, 11-3, Lalhunhlua/Puia lost to Arjun/Ayush 3-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 7-11, Lalrin Puia bt Arjun Ghosh 11-5, 2-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-7.

 Cadet Girls: Final: India A bt India B 3-1 (Calange Ravichandran bt Sreeja Akula 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8, Sagarika Mukherjee bt Moumita Dutta 11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, Calange/Sagarika lost to Akula/Dutta 12-10, 11-4, 6-11, 6-11, 7-11, Sagarika Mukherjee bt Sreeja Akula 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 10-12, 12-10; Semi-finals: India B bt Hong Kong-India Sreeja Akula bt Aishwarya Pathak 11-7, 4-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, Moumita Dutta bt Desiree Hung 12-10, 11-9, 11-6, Sreeja/Moumita bt Aishwarya/Hung 11-6, 6-11, 11-4, 17-15; India A bt India C 3-0 (Clange Ravichandran bt A. Naina 12-10, 11-7, 11-9, Sagarika Mukherjee bt Shruti Vijay Amrute 11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 17-15, 11-2, Calange/Sagarika bt Naina/Shruti 12-10, 12-10, 11-9.

A TTFI Press release

Unranked Chinese players give jolt to Manika, Suthirtha

Mumbai, October 16, 2013: Even as the India A boys made easy forays and established themselves as a strong gold medal contender in the Junior category, India A team’s junior girls were on shaky legs as they went down 0-3 to unranked Chinese players at the Reliance India Junior and Cadet Open here at the NSCI Stadium today.

But for this one aberration, the Indians in all other sections were very much in their zones and making the right noises. In fact, what Manika Batra with the world ranking of 30 and Suthirtha Mukherjee, ranked 60, failed to do in Group 1, both Reeth Tennison (158) and Ayhika Mukherjee (127) accomplished as India B beat the China-India combination in Group 2 to secure a semifinal spot ahead of the A team.

Indeed, it was not the kind of start that the hosts would have envisaged on the opening day of the 2013 ITTF global circuit event here. Two unranked Chinese players Yanmei Yang and Anqi Li went about their demolishing job of both Suthirtha Mukherjee and Manika Batra in that order in just about 40 minutes.

Yang defeated Suthirtha 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 and Li outsmarted Batra 5-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-6, 11-7 to forewarn that it will not be a cakewalk for the higher ranked Indians. Both Suthirtha and Mankia were guilty of playing into the Chinese hands who kept their basics right. Suthirtha began promisingly taking the first game, only to lose the next three on the trot.

Manika, on the other hand, showed a lot of enterprise only to falter as after winning the first and third games and leading 2-1, she succumbed to Li’s slow and cautious game plan. Li was excellent in keeping the ball on the table while Manika, more often than not, only managed to put it back on the net. That was her undoing and, seizing the opportunity, Li just rolled over the Indian in style.

“She (Li) was too good with her backhand play. I was not able to play my shots and made far too many mistakes at the net,” said Manika. The lanky Indian, however, said that the team will make amends in the latter matches.

So far, the teams that have made it to the second stage include India A and B in Junior Boys, India A in Cadet Boys and India A and B teams in Cadet Girls. Two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals to be played tomorrow morning with the finals to follow in the evening.

Overall the hosts have held sway over the rest in fray and are on way to sweeping the medal tally, expect for the India A girls who could end up with the silver. They are expected to meet the Chinese in the Junior Girls final.

In the Junior Girls, the Reeth and Ayhika had to put in the extra effort to win their group match against the India-China combination of Senhora D’Souza and Xiaotong Sun. One Chinese in that combine made all the difference with Sun winning both her singles. However, with Senhora being the weak link, Reeth and Ayhika won their singles against the Mumbai girl and then beat the India-China duo in the doubles to book their semifinal slot.

In yet another match, India B fared well in the Cadet Boys section as they went past China, thanks to Ayush Tayal and Arjun Ghosh. Though Tayal lost his match to Yuhao Wang, Ghosh levelled the score by winning against Beizeng Wang. After that the Indians went 2-1 up after beating the Chinese pair in the doubles, Arjun had a tough ask against Yuhao in the reverse singles. Arjun, brushing aside a stiff challenge, won 3-2 (4-11, 11-8, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7).

Results

Junior Boys:  Group 1: India A bt India E 3-0 (Abhishek Yadav bt Sanish Ambekar 11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7, Sudhanshu Grover bt Chinmay Vinod 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 13-11; India A bt China-Iran 3-0 (Sudhanshu Grover bt Huabing He 11-6, 11-6, 11-3, Abhishek Yadav bt Nia Sooroosh Amiri 11-1, 11-4, 13-11, Sudhanshu/Abhishek bt He/Amiri 11-3, 11-7, 11-9; India E bt China-Iran Chinmay Vinod bt Huabing He 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, Sanish Ambekar bt Soroosh Nia Amiri 11-5, 10-12, 11-7, 11-8, Vinod/Sanish bt He/Amiri 11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 9-11, 11-8.

Group 2: Inda B bt India D 3-0 (Utkarsh Gupta bt Nishad Shah 11-7, 4-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, Sabhya Virmani bt Mudit Dani 11-5, 11-7, 11-8, Utkarsh/Sabhya bt Nishaad/Mudit 13-15, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4; India B bt India C 3-0 (Utkarsh Gupta bt Rohit Rajasekhar 11-9, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6, Sabhya Virmani bt Sameera Kumar 11-2, 11-9, 11-7, Utkarsh/Sabhya bt Rohit/Sameera Kumar 11-8, 12-10, 5-11, 11-5; India C bt India D 3-2 (Sameera Kumar lost to Nishaad Shah 8-11, 5-11, 9-11, Rohit Rajasekhar bt Mudit Dani 11-8, 11-6, 11-6, Sameera/Rohit bt Nishaad/Mudit 11-8, 11-5, 10-12, 11-9, Rohit Rajasekhar lost to Nishaad Shah 9-11, 8-11, 6-11, Sameera Kumar bt Mudit Dani 11-9, 11-3,11-5.

Junior Girls: Group 1: China bt India A 3-0 (Yanmei Yang bt Suthirtha Mukherjee 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5, Anqi Li bt Manika Batra 6-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-6, 11-7, Yang/Li bt Manika/Suthirtha 11-7, 11-4, 11-6; India A bt India C 30 (Manika Batra bt Mallika Bhandarkar 8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5, Suthirtha Mukherjee bt Narisimha Priya 13-11, 11-7, 11-7, Manika/Suthirtha bt Mallika/Priya 11-7, 9011, 13-11, 11-6; China bt India C 3-0 (Anqi Li bt Narasimha Priya 11-2, 11-8, 11-9, Yanmei Yang bt Mallika Bhandarkar 11-13, 11-5, 13-11, 11-8, Li/Yang bt Priya/Mallika 6-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7.

Group 2: India B bt India D 3-0 (Ayhika Mukherjee bt Devika Bhide 18-11, 11-7, 11-6, Reeth Tennison bt Shireen Inamdar 11-1, 11-9, 11-8, Ayhika/Reeth bt Devika/Shireen 11-7, 11-5, 11-6; India B bt China-India 3-2 (Ayhika Mukherjee bt Senhora D’Souza 11-7, 11-6, 11-8, Reeth Tennison lost to Xiaotong Sun 8-11, 6-11, 11-6, 8-11, Ayhika/Reeth bt Senhora/Sun 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5, Ayhika Mukherjee lost to Xiaotong Sun 11-4, 11-7, 3-11, 6-11, 7-11, Reeth Tennison bt Senhora D’Souza 11-6, 8-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, China-India bt India D 3-1 (Senhora D’Souza bt Devika Bhide 11-6, 11-9, 11-5, Xiaotong Sun bt Shireen Inamdar 11-3, 11-6, 11-7, Senhora/Sun lost to Devika/Shireen 10-12, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7, 8-11, Xiaotong Sun bt Devika Bhide 11-5, 15-13, 11-2.

Cadet Boys: Group 1: India A bt UAE 3-0 (Birdie Boro bt Abdullaa Albalooshi 11-5, 11-5, 11-6, Anirban Ghosh bt Salah Al-Balooshi 11-6, 11-4, 11-4, Birdie/Anirban bt Abdulla/Salah 11-7, 11-6, 11-13, 14-12; India A bt India C 3-0 (Birdie Boro bt Lalhunhlua 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-2, Anirban Ghosh bt Lalrin Puia 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, Birdie/Anirban bt Lalhunhlua/Puia 11-5, 11-7, 10-12, 11-3.

Group 2: India B bt India-UAE 3-0 (Arjun Ghosh bt Saif Alfalasi 11-5, 11-2, 11-3, Ayush Tayal bt Shaurya Tushar 11-5, 11-9, 11-8, Arjun/Ayush bt Shaurya/Saif 11-6, 11-8, 11-7; China bt Nigeria-India 3-0 (Yuhao Wang bt Hammed Osibanjo 11-4, 11-8, 11-7, Beizeng Wang lost to Siddhesh Mukund 5-11, 9-11, 7-11, Yuhao/Beizeng bt Hammed/Siddhesh 11-7, 11-7, 11-6;  India B bt China 3-1 (Ayush Tayal lost to Yuhao Wang 11-8, 6-11, 4-11, 6-11, Arjun Ghosh bt Beizeng Wang 13-11, 14-12, 11-8, Ayush/Arjun bt Yuhao/Beizeng 11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 11-2, Arjun Ghosh bt Yuhao Wang 4-11, 11-8, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7; Nigeria-India bt India-UAE Siddhesh Mukund bt Sail Alfalasi 6-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-3, Hammed Osibanjo lost to Shaurya Tushar 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, Siddhesh/Hammed bt Saif/Shaurya 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8; India B bt Nigeria-India 3-0 (Ayush Tayal bt Siddhesh Mukund 12-10, 12-10, 14-12, Arjun Ghosh bt Hammed Osibanjo 11-4, 15-13, 11-6, Tayal/Arjun bt Siddhesh/Hammed 12-10, 11-5, 11-4; China bt India-UAE 3-0 (Yuhao Wang bt Saif Alfalasi 11-9, 11-2, 11-3, Beizeng Wang bt Shaurya Tushar 11-7, 11-7, 11-9, Yuhao/Beizeng bt Shaurya/Saif 11-6, 13-11, 9-11, 11-4.

Cadet Girls:  Group 1: India B bt India D 3-0 (Sreeja Kula bt Ashlesha Trehan 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5, Moumita Dutta bt Mansi Mahendra 11-13, 13-11, 11-3, 11-9, Sreeja/Moumita bt Ashlesha/Mansi 11-6, 13-11, 9-11, 11-8; India B bt India C 3-2 (Moumita Dutta bt Naina 11-5, 119, 13-11, Sreeja Akula bt Shruti Vijay Amrute 11-5, 4-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, Moumita/Sreeja  lost to Naina/Shruti 10-12, 10-12, 7-11, Sreeja Akula lost to Naina 5-11, 11-5, 7-11, 8-11, Moumita Dutta bt Shruti Vijay Amrute 11-7, 11-4, 11-9.

Group 2: India A bt India E 3-0 (Calange Ravichandra bt Dyuti Sagar 11-9, 11-8, 11-6, Sagarika Mukherjee bt Srushti Halengadi 12-10, 11-5, 11-2, Calange/Sagarika bt Dyuti/Srushti 11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 9-11, 12-10; India A bt Hong Kong-India 3-0 (Calange Ravichandra bt Desiree Hung 11-4, 11-6, 11-3, Sagarika Mukherjee bt Aishwarya Pathak 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 4-11, 11-7, Calange/Sagarika bt Desiree/Aishwarya 11-3, 12-10, 11-4.