Top seed Dev Shroff, ranked No.7 in the country and No 3 in state in the boys under-15 category, downed giant-killer Maanav Mehta in the action-packed sub-junior boys singles final in the MCF -All Mumbai 4-Star Ranking Table Tennis tournament, hosted by Mandpeshwar Civil Federation at their Sports Complex at Borivali here today. In a battle of fluctuating fortunes, lefthander Dev outgunned Maanav 4-3 (11-9, 11-8, 13-15, 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7).
The FINALISTS in sub-junior,cadet and veterans with their trophies pose with Mr Bindesh Chitalia, MCF Gen Secretary, Dr Dhruv Raul, the tournament director, and other MCF officials.
Mihika Rohira, the top seed, claimed the sub-junior girls title at the expense of bespectacled Vidhi Shah, but there were moments, when the tie could have gone the other way. However, Mihika controlled her strokes to nicety to win 4-2 (5-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9).
The salient feature of the MCF tourney, has been the record entries, about 900 – which include the newly introduced doubles events – men’s, women’s and mixed doubles events- after a gap of almost five decades. The MCF have been promoting many sports apart from table tennis. They have been having regular coaching schemes in cricket, tennis, badminton, swimming and table tennis.
Results:
Sub-junior boys singles (Semifinals): (1)- Dev Shroff bt Rutvik Nagle 11-7, 11-7, 11-9, 13-11; Maanav Mehta bt Hrishikesh Malhotra 6-11, 14-12, 11-8, 14-12. (Final): (1)- Dev Shroff bt Maanav Mehta 4-3 (11-9, 11-8, 13-15, 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7).
Sub-junior girls singles (Semifinals): Mihika Rohira bt Sampada Bhiwandkar 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6; Vidhi S Shah bt Sheefa Shaikh 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8. (Final): Mihika Rohira bt Vidhi A Shah 5-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9.
OTHER FINALS:
Cadet Girls Singles: Ananya Chande bt Pearl Amalsadwala 7-11, 14-12, 12-10, 11-8.Cadet Boys Singles: Havish Asrani bt Kushal Patel 11-1, 11-1, 11-9.
Midget Boys Singles: Dev Hingorany bt Yuvraj Yadav 18-16, 12-14, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8.Midget Girls Singles: Urvgi Churi bt Ananya Roy 11-8, 11-8, 11-8.
( Results of Veterans’ and Doubles events have already been covered separately )