Thiruvananthapuram: The finals at the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships lacked the expected drama, as both Chandan Sinai Caro of Goa and Tanishka Kalbhairav of Karnataka cruised to victory in the Under-13 Youth Boys' and Girls' singles, securing their titles at the Jimmy George Indoor Stadium.
Chandan, who had battled through a tough semifinal, found the final much smoother against Tamil Nadu’s J.N. Sanjey Arwindh. Despite levelling the score at 1-1, Arwindh struggled to find his rhythm, and although he came close in the third and fourth games, the match was always under Caro’s control. The Goan player combined caution with aggression to claim his first title.
Tanishka, known for her consistency, asserted her dominance early on, racing to a 2-0 lead against Aarya. Though the PSPB Academy paddler staged a comeback to win the third game and fought hard in the fourth, Tanishka held her nerve, clinching the gold with a narrow win.
Chandan delivered an impressive performance in the first of the two semifinals, facing stiff resistance from Rishan Chattopadhyay of West Bengal. The Goan player’s progression to the medal rounds was a testament to his skill and resilience. After winning the first two games in tight, extended points, Chandan seemed to lose focus in the following two, allowing Rishan to close in. However, showing remarkable composure, Chandan regrouped and, despite Rishan’s relentless attacks, clinched the decisive fifth game on his fifth match point.
In the second semifinal, Sanjey took a commanding 2-0 lead, only to drop the third game to West Bengal’s Himon Mondal. However, the Tamil Nadu player maintained overall control throughout the match and quickly regained his rhythm, easily overcoming his opponent.
The boys’ quarterfinals lacked significant drama, with the stronger players efficiently dispatching their opponents, even if a game was occasionally dropped. Despite the occasional lapse, they swiftly regained their calm, making progress.
In the girls’ competition, Tanishka staged a notable recovery after falling behind 0-1. She surged ahead to take a 2-1 lead, but Saturya Banerjee of West Bengal fought back, levelling the score. However, Tanishka’s steadfast defence and calculated counterattacks thwarted Banerjee’s efforts in the final game, allowing the Karnataka player to emerge victorious.
The other semifinal was dominated by Aarya Redkar, who comfortably defeated Avni Janghu of Haryana. Though Avni mounted a brief challenge in the third game, Aarya sealed the match on her second match point.
The girls’ quarterfinals mirrored the boys' outcomes, with two players posting dominant 3-0 wins, while the other two semifinals saw 3-1 victories.
Results:
Youth Boys U-13: Final: Chandan Sinai Caro (Goa) bt J.N. Sanjey Arwindh (TN) 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9.
Semifinals: Chandan bt Rishaan Chattopadhyay (WB) 12-10, 13-11, 7-11, 6-11, 16-14; Sanjey bt Himon Mondal (WB) 12-10, 11-6, 5-11, 11-2.
Quarterfinals: Chandan bt Param Bhiwandkar (Mah) 3-1; Rishaan bt Arunesh R (Pon) 3-0; Sanjey bt Bishal Mandal (WB) 3-0; Himon bt Souswaraya Banerjee (WB) 3-1.
Youth Girls U-11: Final: Tanishka Kalbhairav (Kar) bt Aarya Redkar (PSPBA) 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9.
Semifinals: Tanishka bt Saturya Banerjee (WB) 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8; Aarya bt Avni Janghu (Har) 11-8, 11-9, 13-11.
Quarterfinals: Tanishka bt Saranya Kar (WB) 3-0; Saturya bt Sreosree Chakraborty (WB) 3-0; Aarya bt Myraa Sangelkar (Mah) 3-1; Avni bt Shanaya Tyagi (Del) 3-1.
