Bespectacled collegian Aditi Sinha fought back from the brink to overcome spirited Manas Chiplunkar (4-3) in a nerve –wracking women’s singles quarterfinals in Khar Gymkhana-All Mumbai 4-Star Ranking Table Tennis tournament, at Khar Gymkhana here today.
Aditi Sinha was off to a flying start, as her backhand cuts and chops together with her forehand topspinners helped her to jump to 2-0 lead. However, Aditi became a bit erratic thereafter as Manasi controlled Aditi’s ploy effectively to make it 2-all. The tussle became intense as lead changed hands frequently with Manasi holding an edge for most part of the tie, yet in the end it was Aditi who had the last laugh as she went on win the tie 12-10, 11-6, 2-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-13, 15-13.
Seasoned Ravindra Kotiyan displayed his class in abundance as he rallied from 1-2 down to settle the pretensions of junior Hrishikesh Malhotra 9-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 2-11, 12-10 in a fast-paced men’s singles quarterfinals. While top seed Jignesh Rahatwal had to fight hard to stop unrelenting opponent lefthander Nishant Kjulkarni before Jignesh was through 10-12, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10.
Earlier in the second round Men’s singles match Samir Deo from PTKS defeated Sanjay Mehta from KRC in a well fought match. Samir was 1-2 down in the best of five games encounter but recovered to equalise the set score at 2-2. In the decider down 0-3 he fought hard to win the decider and match at 11-7. Samir however lost another close match in the next round to Sarosh Shroff when he lost the decider 8-11.
In the Girls section Ananya Chande who had impressed with her attacking game yesterday while entering semi finals of both Jr. Girls and Sub Jr. Girls singles, lost a well fought battle to Hardee Patel today in semi finals of Jr. Girls Singles.
Results:
Men’s singles.
(Quarterfinals): (1)- Jignesh Rahatwal bt Nishant Kulkarni 10-12, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10; Ravindra Kotiyan bt Hrishikesh Malhotra 9-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 2-11, 12-10; Havish Asrani bt Shivam Das 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8; Parthav Kelkar bt Viren Patel 15-13, 14-12, 13-11, 11-7.
(Pre-quarterfinals): (1)- Jignesh Rahatwal bt Ashwin Hanagudu 11-6, 11-5, 11-9; Nishant Kulkarni bt Suhas Rane 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5; Hrishikesh Malhotra bt Nitesh Kumawat 11-6, 11-3, 11-4; Ravindra Kotiyan bt Arnav Karnavar 10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6; Havish Asrani bt Bhavitavya Shah 11-8, 11-9, 11-8; Shivam Das bt Mustafa Manager 11-9, 11-9, 11-8; Viren Patel bt Imran Sayyed 14-12, 11-2, 12-10; Parthav Kelkar bt Harish Shirsat 11-9, 11-9, 12-14, 12-10.
Women’s singles (Quarterfinals): (1)- Mamata Prabhu bt Siya Hingorany 11-6, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7; Aditi Sinha bt Manasi Chiplunkar 12-10, 11-6, 2-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-13, 15-13; Reeth Rishya bt Vidhi Shah 11-8, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7; (2)- Anannya Basak bt Charvi Kawle 11-5, 10-12, 3-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-4.
Jr girls singles (semifinals): (1)- Vidhi Shah bt Pearl Amalsadwala 5-11, 8-11,8-11,11-7,11-4,11-7, 11-9; Hardee Patel bt Ananya Chande 6-11,7-11,1`2-10,11-3, 11-9,11-6.