Girls’ title for Nithyashree
Nithyashree Mani defeated Munmun Kundu for her first sub-junior girls’ trophy while Payas Jain failed to defend the boys’ title in the allIndia national ranking table Tennis championships (South Zone) in Dharwad, Karnataka, on Tuesday.
Nithyashree won 4-11, 2-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 12-10, 15-13. Jain went down to H. Jeho 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4.
In the girls’ final, the Tamil Nadu paddler was down and out with her West Bengal opponent holding two match points in the fourth game.
But a late resurgence saw Nithyashree turn the tide, despite Munmun having three match points in the fifth game, nine in all. Nithyashree won five straight points to take the fourth game 12-10.
In the decider, Munmun led 8-4 but Nithyashree’s greater determination enabled her to force the Bengal girl to commit unforced errors, which tilted the game in the Tamil Nadu girls’ favour. Nithyashree’s coach Subin Kumar was all praise for her composure under pressure.
“More than she I was very nervous when she missed three match points in the decider. But knowing her nature well, I knew she was capable of pulling it off.”
In the sub-junior boys’ final, there was little to choose between Jeho and Payas.
Payas led 3-2 and looked like sewing it up in the sixth when he led by a couple of points. But Jeho fought his way back and levelled the score.
In the decider, a tired Payas had very little answer to the Jeho’s superior defensive tactics.
In the cadet boys’ singles final, S. Preyesh Raj beat Shantesh Mapsekar 11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 115 in the final.
Suhana Saini won the cadet girls’ singles trophy, overpowering Nehal Venkatasamy 11-5, 116, 11-1, 11-8 in the title clash. Results (all finals): Sub-junior boys singles: H.Jeho (PSPBA) bt Payas Jain (Del) 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4; Sub-junior girls singles: Nithyashree Mai (TN) bt Munmun Kundu (WB) 4-11, 2-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 12-10, 15-13; Cadet boys singles: S. Preyesh Raj (TN) bt Shantesh Mapsekar (Goa) 11-4, 9-11, 116, 11-2, 11-5; cadet girls singles: Suhana Saini (Har) bt Nehal Venkatasamy (TN) 11-5, 11-6, 11-1, 11-8.