Former National champion and India No. 7, Sanil Shetty and his team mate Ruchira Manerkar, proved their supremacy winning all their matches on the opening day, as Kool Smashers won their first match with comfort to record a fluent 6-3 win against Blazing Bashers in the 2nd edition of the iProspect Mumbai Super League (MSL) Table Tennis Championships, organized by 11Even Sports and which got underway at the NSCI on Thursday.
Sanil Shetty and Ruchira Manerkar in action during their mixed doubles match, at the iProspect Mumbai Super League (MSL) Table Tennis Championships.
Their match began, when Kiran Salian defeated Jayant Kulkarni 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 in the opening veterans single game. In the second match, Sanil took some time to settle down, as he lost the first game narrowly. But, later brushed aside the challenge from Blazing Bashers star Paresh Murekar in the men’s singles tie, winning at 10-12, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6. In the third match, Ruchira also dropped one game; but, fought back to overcome Misbah Sumar 12-10, 6-11, 11-4, 11-6 in the women’s singles encounter to give Kool Smashers a comfortable 3-0 lead.
However, the Blazing Bashers mixed junior boys and junior girls combination of Shaurya Pednekar and Srushti Haleangadi halted the winning run of Smashers by defeating Tanmay Rane and Krisha Agarwal 11-2, 11-4, 11-6 and reduce the deficit. Smashers returned to winning ways with Havish Ansari putting it across Mainak Nistala 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 14-12 in an exciting cadet boys’ game and then Sanil in the company of Ruchira got the better of Paresh Murekar and Misbah Sumar 11-3, 4-11, 11-4, 11-7.
Bashers snatched another win with Srushti Haleangadi easily prevailing over Krisha Agarwal 11-3, 11-5, 11-4 in the junior girls’ singles. In the next game, Smashers pair of Kiran Salian and Sanil Shetty won the double tie defeating Jayant Kulkarni and Paresh Murekar 12-10, 12-10, 10-12, 12-10 before Bashers won the last game as Shaurya Pednekar beat Tanmay Rane 10-12, 4-11, 10-12 in the doubles game.
MTC Royals were fighting against Top Spinners in another exciting match of the day,with North Zone Chapion Madhurika Patkar facing the challenge of Shweta Parte, in the women’s singles match.
Earlier, Vivek Bhargava, Managing Director, iProspects, addressing the players from the participating franchise teams at the opening ceremony, stressed that playing sports was very essential in our daily lives. “We keep better playing sports and as a player. It’s important to play competitive sports as it helps to take failure in your stride. So I request all parents present here to please encourage their children to play some sport,” stated Bhargava.
Results – Group ‘B’: Kool Smashers beat Blazing Bashers 6-3 (Kiran Salian bt Jayant Kulkarni 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 – in veteran singles; Sanil Shetty bt Paresh Murekar 10-12, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6 – in the men’s singles, Ruchira Manerkar bt Misbah Sumar 12-10, 6-11, 11-4, 11-6 – women singles; Tanmay Rane/Krisha Agarwal lost to Shaurya Pednekar/Srushti Haleangadi 2-11, 4-11, 6-11 – jr. boys & jr girls mixed doubles; Havish Ansari bt Mainak Nistala 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 14-12 – Cadet Singles ; Sanil Shetty/Ruchira Manerkar bt Paresh Murekar/Misbah Sumar 11-3, 4-11, 11-4, 11-7 – men’s women’s mixed doubles; Krisha Agarwal lost to Srushti Haleangadi 3-11, 5-11, 4-11 – junior girls singles; Kiran Salian/ Sanil Shetty bt Jayant Kulkarni/Paresh Murekar 12-10, 12-10, 10-12, 12-10 – veteran men and men’s doubles; Tanmay Rane lost to Shaurya Pednekar 10-12, 4-11, 10-12 – junior boys singles.