Madhurika, Sharath clinch singles crowns in 11Even Sports National TT Championships
Manesar (Haryana), February 5:
Madhurika Patkar clinched her maiden women’s singles crown while A. Sharath regained the men’s singles title in the 11Even Sports 78th Senior Nationals Table Tennis Championship at the Manesar Sports Club, here on Sunday.
In the final, Sharath beat Soumyajit Ghosh 4-2 and Madhurika downed six-time national champion Poulomi Ghatak 4-0. Their efforts fetched them Rs. 2.2 lakh and Rs. 1.2 lakh, respectively.
In the title clash, Sharath made a good beginning but Ghosh came back to take the next. The pattern continued until the fourth, but in the fifth Sharath accelerated and increased the lead with considerable pace. And in the sixth Ghosh lost steam and Sharath made it more difficult as he opened up a sizeable lead which he maintained throughout to emerge winner.
“Very satisfying,” said Sharath after the win. “I was very confident but feeling really tired. I knew Ghosh too sailing in the same boat, having played the doubles. Luckily, it helped me a bit. Manesar has proved to be my happy hunting ground,” said Sharath.
Madhurika was understandably emotional as she went down on her knees when Poulomi netted. In fact, Poulomi crossed to the other side and patted on Madhurika’s back, whispering a few words of appreciation into her ears. Later, talking to the media, Poulomi said: “She played too good today. She is the deserving champion.” Indeed, These words, coming as they did from a six-time champion, lent more credence to the top-seed who lived up to her position in the singles. Playing the final with all concentration and intensity, she kept Poulimi on a tight leash and it reflected in the first three games. However, as she approached the final moments, a few offer of high balls almost put her down but two good points in between took her at the doorstep of maiden win. Her joy knew no bounds when Poulomi’s feeble return hit the net.
Madurika took a victory lap of the hall and thanked all those supported her and then she joined the parents who were waiting outside the hall before calling her coach Shailaja Gohad. “Best moment of my life and culmination of a wonderful season,” said Madhurika who won both the season opening North Zone and season ending East Zone titles. She also gave full credit to her mental trainer Dr Nitin ……. “I knew I had everything to play and be on top but thanks to him (Dr Nitin) I was able to win today,” said Madhurika even as she recalled her husband (Omkar) and mother-in-law’s support in realizing her dream.
The results (Prefix denotes seedings):
Men (Final): A. Sharath Kamal (Pet) bt Soumyajit Ghosh (Har) 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8, 11-5;Semifinals: Sharath bt 5-Harmeet Desai (Pet) 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 10-12, 7-11, 14-12, 11-9; Ghosh bt 2-G. Sathiyan (Pet) 12-10, 11-7, 11-6, 4-11, 11-4; Quarterfinals: Sharath bt Subhajit Saha (Pet) 11-6, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7; Desai bt 4-Sanil Shetty (Pet) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6; Ghosh bt 3-A. Amalraj (Pet) 11-7, 11-8, 11-9, 11-3; Sathiyan bt Devesh Karia (Guj) 8-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-4, 11-4.
Women (Final): 1-Madhurika bt Poulomi 11-5, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10; Semifinals: Madhurika bt 5-Manika Batra 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8; Poulomi bt 6-Pooja Sahasrabudhe 11-8, 11-5, 12-10, 11-8; Quarterfinals: Madhurika bt Krittwika Sinha Roy (WB) 11-5, 11-9, 11-9, 15-13; Manika bt Nikhat Banu (Tel) 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 5-11, 11-8, 11-4; Pooja bt Shreya Ghosh (WB) 11-2, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9; Poulomi bt Archana Kamath 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 6-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-4.
Men Doubles (Final): 1-Soumyajit Ghosh and Jubin Kumar (Har) bt Sushmit Sriram and Anirban Ghosh (AAI) 11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5; Semifinals: Ghosh and Jubin bt 4-Arjun Ghosh and Surajit Das (WB) 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8; Sushmit and Anirban bt 7-Sourav Saha and Mohit Verma (Har) 10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7.
Women Doubles Final: 1-Anindita Chakraborty and Sutritha Mukherjee (WB) bt 2-Poulomi Ghatak and Mouma Das (Pet) 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 7-11, 11-3; Semifinals: Anindita and Sutirtha bt Maria Roy and Seraha Jacob (Ker) 12-10, 11-7, 11-7; Poulomi and Mouma bt 7-Sagarika Mukherjee and Takeme Sarkar (NB) 11-9, 11-8, 11-7.
Mixed Doubles Final: 2-Arjun Ghosh and Sutritha Mukherjee (WB) bt 4-Sanil Shetty and Pooja Sahasrabudhe (Pet) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9; Semifinals: Shetty and Pooja bt 1-G. Sathiyan bt Reeth Rishya (Pet) 11-7, 13-15, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9. Arjun and Sutirtha bt T. Nitin and Swetha Kumaravel (Kar) 12-10, 11-13, 13-11, 11-8.