Jaipur: Bolstered by the presence of Rio Olympics-bound Soumyajit Ghosh, the men’s team of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) blanked out Airports Authority of India (AAI) 3-0 in final of the AAI 46th All India Inter-Institutional Championships at the SMS Indoor Stadium here on Tuesday.
With this triumph, the PSPB paddlers had ensured that the trophy stayed with them for the 15th occasion. But even before that the PSPB’s women had that paved the way with a similar verdict in their final against the same opponent to complete 13 title-wins so far.
Even before the men’s final began, it was a foregone conclusion that PSPB was destined to win the title and playing the first rubber, G. Sathiyan dictated terms against Sushmit Sriram and finished provided the 1-0 lead in flat 25 minutes. The attacking Sanil Shankar Shetty continued from where his teammate left off and surged ahead despite AAI’s Sarthak Gandhi opening with a 1-0 lead. The southpaw Shetty, brushing aside the slender lead, soon took control of the proceedings to shut his opponent out.
Soumyajit Ghosh, playing the third singles, began somewhat cautiously against the promising Anirban Ghosh only to take the first game with a lot to spare. By the time he had warmed up more than sufficiently and it was showing in his second game. In the third Anirban fought well to keep in close range of Ghosh on points but nothing beyond under the circumstances. The flowing strokes form Ghosh said the frame of mind the PSPB paddlers were in.
Strategy pays off
The strikingly palpable change in women’s line-up for the final with their No. 1 player Manika Batra slotted to play the lone third singles came as a surprise. It meant K. Shamini, until then playing only the third singles, was not only to take on Archana Girish Kamath, the No. 2 player and, if need be, the fourth singles.
The experienced Mouma Das was pitted against Ayhika Mukherjee in the second singles and if the match had to stretch to the fifth rubber, she was chosen as the ideal person to break the tie. But, fortunately, the moves paid off and it was a clean job done in less than an hour and a half.
Without much ado, Shamini combined well and attacked with her strokes, nicely using the flanks to outwit Archana, who was distinctly in discomfiture as she failed to tackle the pace set by Shamini. Though Archana did come back in the second game and won 11-6, it was the third game that kept pushing her in and out. Leading 7-5 and 9-7, Archana kept herself alive and kicking until a string of unforced errors let her down and the experienced Shamini off the hook.
AAI’s No. 1 player, Ayhika Mukherjee was found wanting against a veteran like Mouma Das, who was very deceptive with her topspin serves and scorching forehand strokes. Ayhika did counter her well at times but Mouma, with good anticipation, smothered her opponent for a straight-games win.
Next to follow was Manika who, despite dropping the first game, steadied herself to overcome the starting trouble.
The focus will now shift to the singles, the qualification group matches of which began this morning. Ghosh, who arrived to join his team members, was indeed the attraction today and from tomorrow the iconic A. Sharath Kamal, who is only playing the singles here, could be the cynosure of all eyes.
The results: Team championship:
Men Final: Petroleum beat Airports Authority of India 3-0 (G. Sathiyan bt Sushmit Srriram 11-1, 11-8, 11-8, Sanil Shetty beat Sarthak Gandhi 5-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6, Soumyajit Ghosh beat Anirban Ghosh 11-6, 11-9, 11-9).
Women: Final: Petroleum beat Airports Authority of India 3-0 (K.Shamini bt Archana Kamath 11-7, 6-11, 11-5, 12-10, Mouma Das beat Ayhika Mukherjee 11-9, 11-7, 11-9, Manika Batra beat Frenaz Chipia 4-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6).
