Maharashtra ‘A’ bagged the silver medal in the junior boys’ Team Championship event in the 11Even Sports 78th Junior and Youth National TT Championships. Despite their impressive showing throughout the competition, the state lads fell short at the final hurdle going down fighting 1-3 to PSPBA in the final at the SAMA Indoor Complex, in Vadodara on Sunday.
Maharashtra Junior boys’ team are all smiles after winning the Silver medal in the Team Championship of the 11Even Sports 78th Junior and Youth National TT Championships at Vadodara on Sunday.
Aniruddha Marathe gave Maharashtra a bright start by winning the opening rubber with a hard-fought 13-11, 12-10, 14-12 win against Anukram Jain. But the young paddlers from the state were unable to sustain the momentum and were unable to sort PSPBA’s star player Manav Thakkar, who single-handedly carried his team to victory. In the second tie of the contest, Manav easily defeated Shaurya Pednekar 11-5, 13-11, 11-4. He then combined perfectly with Anukram in the doubles rubber to score over the Maharashtra pair of Shaurya and Shubham Ambre by a 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 scorline. Having established a 2-1 lead for PSPBA, Manav returned to the table and comfortably beat Aniruddha 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 in the fourth rubber to seal the verdict in PSPBA’s favour.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu bagged the Junior girls’ Team Championship crown. The Tamil Nadu team defeated West Bengal 3-1 in the final.
The Maharashtra girls’ team won the Junior Girls’ Team Championship bronze medal after they suffered a 1-3 defeat at the hands on West Bengal in the semi-finals.
Earlier in the semi-finals, the Maharashtra boys forged a great combination to overcome West Bengal 3-2. Maharashtra started on a shaky note as Shaurya Pednekar lost the opening rubber to Jeet Chandra who romped to a 12-10, 13-11, 11-5 win to put Bengal in the lead. Aniruddha Marathe got Maharashtra back into the match when he defeated Soham Bhattacharya11-5, 11-3, 11-8 to level scores.
Later, the Maharashtra duo of Shaurya and Shubham Ambre won the crucial doubles rubber defeating Chandra and Soham 11-13, 15-13, 11-8, 11-4 to give their team a vital 2-1 lead. Although Aniruddha lost the fourth tie to Chandra 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, Shaurya ensured Maharashtra’s victory when he went on register a straight games 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 win over Soham in the fifth and deciding rubber.
Results – Junior Boys’ (finals): PSPBA beat Maharashtra ‘A’ 3-1 (Anukram Jain lost Aniruddha Marathe 11-13, 10-12, 12-14; Manav Thakkar bt Shaurya Pednekar 11-5, 13-11, 11-4; Anukram/Manav bt Shaurya/Shubham Ambre 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7; Manav bt Aniruddha 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8).
Junior Boys’ (semi-finals): Maharashtra ‘A’ beat West Bengal 3-2 (Shaurya Pednekar lost to Chandra Jeet 10-11, 11-13, 5-11; Aniruddha Marathe bt Soham Bhattacharya11-5, 11-3, 11-8; Shaurya/Shubham Ambre bt Chandra/Soham 11-13, 15-13, 11-8, 11-4; Aniruddha lost to Chandra 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 8-11; Shaurya bt Soham 11-3, 11-8, 11-3).
PSPBA beat Gujarat 3-1.
Junior Girls’ (semi-finals): West Bengal beat Maharashtra ‘A’ 3-1 (Prapti Sen bt Manushree Patil 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6; Moumita Datta bt Shruti Amrute 11-9, 9-11, 3-11, 13-11, 11-4; Parpti/Surbhi Patwari lost to Manutshree/Shruti 9-11, 2-11, 2-11; Moumita bt Manushree 11-3, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6).
Tamil Nadu beat Telangana 3-0.