National Ranking TT: Maharashtra players win five medals on final day

THANE: Maharashtra paddlers ended their UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championship (West Zone) campaign on a glorious note winning five more medals here late on Sunday night. Led by young Jennifer Verghese, players from the state won one gold and a silver apiece and three bronze medals on the final day to finish the championship with 11 medals. Taking on India No. 3 (Cadet) Nagam Sharvani of Tamil Nadu in the Cadet Girls’ singles final, India No.2 (Cadet) Jennifer held on her nerves to eke out a hardfought 4-3 (10-12, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 3-11, 11-9) victory to win the title. Earlier, she had beaten Hansini M of Tamil Nadu 3-2 (211, 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4) to pave her way into the finals. Hriday Deshpande cornered the bronze in the Cadet Boys’ singles after he down 1-3 (9-11, 4-11, 11-9, 4-11) to Divyaj Roy Rajkhowa of PSPB A in the semis. He had qualified for the medal round after handing his state-mate Arnav Zagade a 3-1 (8-11, 11-8,11-7,11-9) drubbing in the quarters. In the Sub-Junior Boys’ category, Aadil Anand, India No. 6 (Sub Junior) fell by the wayside in the finals to settle for the silver. He came up with a spirited performance but could not get better off Raj Preyesh Suresh of Tamil Nadu and went down 0-4 (4-11, 9-11, 8-11, 6-11). He had got past Tharun Shanmugam of Tamil Nadu 4-0 (11-5,11-8,11-6,11-7) in the semifinals. Meanwhile, both Tannesha Kotecha and Pritha Vartikar had to settle for bronze in the Sub-Junior category after losing their respective semifinals against Narang Lakshita of Delhi 0-4 and Suhana Saina 1-4.