Maharashtra women displayed perfect teamwork as they fought back strongly to defeat Tamil Nadu 2-1 in the State Team Championships final of the 49th LIC of India-Senior National Carrom Championship 2021-2022 at the Shree Halari Visa Oswal Samaj Hall, Dadar (East) on Saturday evening.
Maharashtra Women’s team
The National Championship is being organised by the All India Carrom Federation (AICF) and hosted by the Maharashtra Carrom Association (MCA) and is co-sponsored by ONGC, Indian Oil, Union Bank of India, Bank of India and Hindustan Petroleum.
The home favourites Maharashtra started on the wrong foot as Aakanksha Kadam was unable to find her touch and lost the opening, singles tie to J. Abinaya in straight games at 16-21, 11-24. But, Mahrashtra’s doubles combination of Shruti Sonawane and Maitreyi Gogate put to good advantage their vast experience to get the better of the spirited Tamil Nadu pair of L. Ammshavarthini and V. Mithra winning in three well-contested sets at 18-11, 16-20, and 17-15.
In the deciding tie, Keshar Nirgun showed great resilience and fighting spirit as she bounced back after dropping the first set to overcome Asvika in three sets. Keshar took time to get into a groove and tamely lost the first set, but came roaring back to win the second set and take the tie to the crucial third set. In the final set, Keshar came out guns blazing winning the opening three boards picking up nine points in the third to gain a 17-0 lead. Asvika won the next before Keshar pocketed the fifth and sixth to clinch a 5-25, 25-15, and 25-6 to secure Maharashtra triumph in front large number of cheering spectators.
Bihar women finished third defeating Jharkhand 3-0 in the third-fourth place encounter.
Meanwhile, Assam men bagged the State Team Championship defeating Uttar Pradesh 3-0 in the final.
PSPB (Petroleum Sports Promotion Board) clinched a grand double winning the men’s and women’s crowns in the Institution Team Championship. The fancied PSPB women prevailed over RBI (Reserve Bank of India) 2-1 in the summit clash. Their men’s team also defeated RBI by an identical 2-1 margin in the final.
Results – Team championships – Women State (finals): Maharashtra beat Tamil Nadu 2-1 (Aakanksha Kadam lost to J. Abinaya 16-21, 11-24; Shruti Sonawane/Maitreyi Gogate beat L. Ammshavarthini/V. Mithra 18-11, 16-20, 17-15; Keshar Nirgun beat Asvika 5-25, 25-15, 25-6).
3rd-4th place: Bihar beat Jharkhand 3-0.
Men State (finals): Assam beat Uttar Pradesh 3-0 (Sonu Choudhary beat Mohd Arif 25-6, 25-5; Biki Singh/Mujib Bur Rahman beat Umar Tanveer/Mohd Shanu 19-17, 25-0; Jugal Kishore Datta beat Abdul Rehman 4-22, 25-10, 25-0).
3rd-4th place: Vidarbha beat Tamil Nadu 3-0.
Women Institution (finals):PSPB beat RBI 2-1 (Kajal Kumari lost to Kavita Somanchi 6-24, 13-18; S. Ilavzhaki/Parimala Devi beat Sangeeta Chandorekar/Urmila Shendge 25-1, 10-18, 25-16; Rashmi Kumari beat Ambika Harith 25-0, 24-18).
3rd-4th place: LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) beat CCSCSB (Central Civil Services Cultural & Sports Board) 3-0.
Men Institution (finals): PSPB beat RBI 2-1 (Mohd. Ghufran lost to Prashant More 0-25, 24-19, 7-25; K. Babu/Y. Pardeshi beat Surya Prakash/Ravi Waghmare 25-14, 23-7; K. Srinivas beat Zaheer Pasha 25-10, 17-25, 25-17).
3rd-4th place: JISL (Jain Irrigation System Limited) beat CCSCSB 3-0.