Indian paddler Reeth Tennison clinched the gold medal defeating compatriot Ankita Das 4-2 in the women’s singles final of the ITTF Ecuador International Open 2021 and played at the Complejo Deportivo Totoracocha, Cuenca, Ecuador on Sunday, according to information received here.
Indian paddler Reeth Tennison who emerged women’s singles champion poses with her trophies.
The 26-year-old Reeth, a Mumbai-based TSTTA player, was engaged in a close tussle for Supremacy with 28-year-old Ankita who started on a positive note by winning the opening game. But, Reeth showed plenty of determination and fought back strongly to win the second and third games to take a slender 2-1 lead. Ankita drew level by snatch a tense fourth game over extra points before Reeth once again found her attacking form and knocked the fight out of her teammate Ankita by winning the next two games and wrap-up the contest with a satisfying 6-11, 11-4, 11-6, 16-18, 11-1 and 11-6 games scores.
India completed a grand double when Manush Shah defeated Juan Jesus Gomez of Mexico 4-1 in the men’s singles final. The 20-year-old Gujarat paddler Manush was in control as he dictated the rallies against his 18-yearold Mexican rival and went on to close out the match with a creditable 11-7, 11-9, 11-13, 11-7 and 11-9 victory and claimed the country’s second gold medal.
Indian paddler Reeth Tennison (centre) who emerged women’s singles champion is flanked by teammate Ankita Das (left) who was runner-up and the losing semi-finalists Nathaly Paredes of Ecuador and Mexico’s Clio Barcenas.
However, Reeth and Manush were both denied from adding another gold medal to their kitty. The Indian pair of Reeth and Ankita suffered a 1-3 (4-11, 11-6, 7-11, 13-15) defeat at the hands of the Mexican duo of Clio Barcenas Arantxa Cossio in the women’s doubles final.
Later, in the men’s doubles summit clash, Manush along with Sanil Shetty were unable to combine effectively and went down fighting to the Mexican combination of Juan Jesus Gomez and Dario Acre in 5-game thriller. Juan and Dario held their nerves to carve out a deserving 3-2 (11-7, 4-11, 3-11, 11-9 and 11-8) victory.
Earlier in the women’s singles penultimate round encounters, Reeth brushed aside Ecuador’s 20-year-old challenger Nathaly Paredes 4-1 (11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4) and Ankita blanked Mexico’s 19-year-old Clio Barcenas 4-0 (13-11, 11-2, 11-6, 13-11).
In the men’s singles semi-finals, Manush encountered a strong challenge from Mexico’s 19-year-old Dario Arce and was taken the distance before he managed to pull through by a tight 4-3 (11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-13 and 11-3) scores, while Juan also faced tough fight from Ecuador’s 27-year-old Rodrigo Tapia before snatching a hard-fought 4-3 (7-11, 14-12, 8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 13-11 and 11-9) verdict.
Results – Women’s singles – Final: Reeth Tennison (IND) beat Ankita Das (IND) 4-2 (6-11, 11-4, 11-6, 16-18, 11-1, 11-6); Semi-finals: Reeth Tennison (IND) beat Nathaly Paredes (ECU) 4-1 (11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4); Ankita Das (IND) beat Clio Barcenas (MEX) 4-0 (13-11, 11-2, 11-6, 13-11).
Men’s singles –
Final: Manush Shah (IND) beat 18yrs-Juan Jesus Gomez (MEX) 4-1 (11-7, 11-9, 11-13, 11-7, 11-9); Semi-finals: Manush Shah (IND) beat 19yrs-Dario Arce (MEX) 4-3 (11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-13, 11-3); Juan Jesus Gomez (MEX) beat Rodrigo Tapia (ECU) 4-3 (7-11, 14-12, 8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 13-11, 11-9).
Women’s doubles – Final: Clio Barcenas/Arantxa Cossio (MEX) beat Reeth Tennison/Ankita Das (IND) 3-1 (11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 15-13).
Men’s doubles – Final: Juan Jesus Gomez/Dario Acre (MEX) beat Manush Shah/Sanil Shetty (IND) 3-2 (11-7, 4-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-8).