In a nail-biting contest at the Police Gymkhana ground, P.J. Hindu Gymkhana emerged victorious by a mere four runs against Victory Cricket Club to lift the 77th Police Shield cricket trophy on the final day of their three-day tie. The closely fought match kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last ball.

P.J. Hindu Gymkhana, starting the day with a lead of 81 runs, posted 261 runs in 39.5 overs in their second innings, bringing their total to 342. Amogh Bhatkal played a pivotal role, top-scoring with 63, supported by Ajit Yadav (39) and Siddhesh Lad (39). Victory Cricket Club’s Parikshit Valasangkar delivered a spectacular bowling performance, claiming 7 wickets for 89 runs.

Chasing a challenging target of 342, Victory Cricket Club fell a few runs short, getting bowled out for 338 in 39.4 overs. Pragnesh Kanpillewar led the charge with a solid 64, while Ayush Zimare (61), Divyansh Saxena (58), and Atharva Ankolekar (50) made significant contributions. Maxwell Swaminathan’s determined bowling effort, taking 5 wickets for 137 runs, proved crucial in securing the narrow victory.

Brief Scores: P.J. Hindu Gymkhana: 261 all out in 39.5 overs (Amogh Bhatkal 63, Ajit Yadav 39, Siddhesh Lad 39; Parikshit Valasangkar 7/89) Victory Cricket Club: 338 all out in 39.4 overs (Pragnesh Kanpillewar 64, Ayush Zimare 61, Divyansh Saxena 58, Atharva Ankolekar 50; Maxwell Swaminathan 5/137).

The final of the 77th Police Invitation Shield Cricket Tournament, saw Victory Cricket Club w bowled out for 211 in 40.4 overs when chasing P.J. Hindu Gymkhana’s first-innings total of 292. At the end of day two of their three-day final despite a valiant 90-run knock by Divyansh Saxena and a steady 56 by Sairaj Patil, the team fell short by 81 runs at the Police Gymkhana ground.

The bowling attack of P.J. Hindu Gymkhana was led by Maxwell Swaminathan, who claimed 3 wickets for 42 runs. Ajit Yadav, Mohit Avasthi, and Akash Pawar contributed significantly, taking two wickets each to knock out the opposition

P.J. Hindu Gymkhana heads into the second innings with a commanding 81-run lead, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.

Brief scores: Victory Cricket Club 211 all out in 40.4 overs (Divyansh Saxena 90, Sairaj Patil 56 Maxwell Swaminathan 3/42, Ajit Yadav 2/2, Mohit Avasthi 2/40).

Om Semwal and Pooja Arthi clinched the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, at the Avaada Otters Squash Open.

In the thrilling men’s final, Om Semwal overcame top seed Rahul Baitha in a five-game marathon. Semwal recovered from setbacks in the first and fourth games to secure a hard-fought 7-11, 13-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-8 victory. The match showcased dazzling strokes, precise drops, and deft touches, with both players giving it their all in a breathtaking contest.

In the women’s finale, second-seeded Pooja Arthi upset top seed Nirupama Dubey in another five-game thriller. Arthi’s strategic placement, sharp wristwork, and tactical drops helped her edge out Dubey 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9. The match was a showcase of resilience and determination, with both players fighting tooth and nail for every point.

Finals Results:

BU-17: Purav Rambhia bt Rachit Shah 11-5,11-6,11-3.

GU-17: Anika Dubey bt Diva Shah 11-6,11-9,4-11,11-8.

BU-15: Shreyansh Jha bt Shresht Iyer 4-11,11-6,11-9,8-11,11-3.

GU-15: Saanvi Kalanki bt Fabiha Nafees 11-5,11-13,13-15,11-6,11-3.

The 1st Indo Master Players Table Tennis Association (IMPTTA) National Championship kicks off at the Andheri Sports Complex, Andheri East, Mumbai, from  January 20 to  January 25. This event has garnered over 800 entries, making it one of the most eagerly anticipated tournaments in the Masters’ table tennis calendar.

Organized by the players, for the players, the IMPTTA is a pioneering association dedicated to promoting master table tennis players aged 39 and above. The championship offers a substantial cash prize pool of ₹3,98,000, with competitions held in various categories, including 39+, 49+, 59+, 64+, 69+, 74+, and 79+ for both men and women.

Spotlight on Star Players

The tournament will feature a stellar lineup of players, including:

Mantu Murmu (West Bengal): A World Champion and National Champion for an astounding 20 consecutive years.

Yogesh Desai( 69+)  Former World Champion in the 69+ category.

Abu Rizwan (39+): National Champion in 39+ Singles (2019–2022, 3 consecutive years); Silver Medalist (40+ Doubles) and Bronze Medalist (40+ Singles) at the 2023 World Championship in Oman; Gold Medalist in 40+ Singles at the 1st Commonwealth Masters Championship (2024); Multiple medalist in team and doubles events at the National Masters Championships (2019–2024).

Speaking about this tournament, IMPTTA Secretary General, Mr. Sameer Bhate said, “We are thrilled to host the 1st IMPTTA National Championship. This event marks a milestone in the world of master table tennis, as it represents the first-ever association created exclusively by the players, for the players.

IMPTTA’s mission is to foster a supportive and competitive environment for master players, distinct from the mainstream tournaments organized by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). Our goal is to grow participation every year and provide players with the respect and recognition they deserve.

Table tennis is not just a sport; it’s a pathway to health and wellness, especially for those aged 40 and above. It offers physical and mental benefits, including improved hand-eye coordination, focus, agility, and reflexes, and helps combat conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Dementia.

As we align with the Fit India Movement, this championship will showcase how table tennis is a sport for life—accessible, injury-safe, and enjoyable at any age.”

About the IMPTTA

The Indo Master Players Table Tennis Association (IMPTTA) is dedicated exclusively to promoting master table tennis in India. By organizing state and national-level tournaments, IMPTTA provides opportunities for players to showcase their talent and foster camaraderie among participants.

In a gripping boys’ U19 semi-final at the Avaada Otters Squash Open, Vedant Chheda delivered a remarkable performance to upset top-seeded Karan Yadav in a nail-biting five-game thriller. Vedant triumphed 11-8, 9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 14-12, showcasing exceptional skill, resilience, and composure.

Vedant Chheda Stuns Top Seed Karan Yadav; to enter Boys U-19 final

The match saw both players battling fiercely, exchanging powerful drives and precise wristy shots. Down 2-1 after three games, Vedant displayed remarkable calmness under pressure to level the score and eventually clinch the deciding game in the hard-fought finale.

Pooja Arthi dominated Janet Vidhi with a commanding straight-game victory at the Avaada Otters Squash Open.

In the women’s semi-finals, Pooja Arthi dominated Janet Vidhi with a commanding straight-game victory at 11-6, 11-9, 11-8. Meanwhile, top-seeded Nirupama Dubey cruised past Sunita Patel with ease, securing her spot in the final with a convincing 11-9, 11-4, 11-6 win.

GU-19 Semi-finals Results: Navya Sundararajan bt Karina Phipps 11-7,11-7,11-1; Reiva Nimbalkar bt Mahika Rakshit 11-8,11-5,11-9

Vedant Chheda, a promising 17-year-old talent, delivered a fine performance in the Avaada Otters Squash Open held at Otters Club, Bandra. Competing in his debut Under-19 tournament, Chheda stunned fourth-seeded Omkar Vinod with a commanding straight games victory of 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 to book his place in the semifinals.

Vedant displayed maturity beyond his years, maintaining composure and employing a strategic mix of precise drop shots and powerful strokes to dominate the match. His exceptional gameplay has set him apart as a serious contender in the section.
In another quarterfinal, top-seeded Karan Yadav demonstrated his prowess, overcoming Teerth Jilka in straight games, 11-4, 12-10, 11-2. Karan held his nerve in the closely contested second game to secure his spot in the semis.
Meanwhile, Udit Mishra also advanced with a clinical display, defeating Abhinav Singh 11-5, 11-5, 11-5. Udit’s consistency and near error-free performance ensured a smooth progression to the next stage.

GU-17 Results: Anika Dubey bt Anoushka Johri 11-2,11-3,11-4; Aarika Mishra bt Saanvi Shree 11-6, 11-4,11-5; Vyomika Khandelwal bt Evana Gada 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7,11-5.

The Rising Star Cricket Academy, under its CSR initiative “RSCA
Cares” will be conducting their annual free cricket coaching camp
for boys’ under-12 and under-14. The coaching camp is supported by the Iranshah Foundation. The selected Players will get an opportunity to play MCA Tournaments in the Parsee Cyclist Sports club.

The camp will be held from February 1 till May 31 and
the trainees will be coached by experienced coach Mr. Farhad
Daruwala. Daruwala is a former Asst. Coach for World Cricket
Academy & Rajasthan Royal Trial Camps under Mr. Zubin Bharucha
He also served as an Asst. Coach for the Canada National Team in
2019. The coaching camp will be held from Tuesday to Friday from
3.30 pm to 6.00 pm. Practice will be at Karnataka Sports ground, Cross Maidan.

Trials will be conducted to select 20 candidates in each of the
two categories. All interested players should report at the Karnataka
cricket ground on Friday, 24th January at 3.30 pm and Saturday 25th January at 7.00 am to 9.30 am for the selection trials in white cricket clothes and shoes. Kindly carry your birth certificate and Aadhar card copy.

The cut-off date for under-12
is born on or after 01.09.2012 & Under-14 is born on or after
01.09.2010 and before 31.08.2012.

Janet Vidhi delivered a commanding performance at the Avaada Otters Squash Open, held at the Otters Club, Bandra, yesterday. She cruised past Karen Vinod with a near flawless display of skill, winning 11-1, 11-3, 11-3. Janet’s exceptional shot placement, wristy strokes and tactical prowess ensured her seamless progression to the quarter-finals.

In other matches, Pooja Arthi scored an emphatic victory against Manasvi Dutt, dismantling her 11-0, 11-1, 11-2. Reiva Nimbalkar also showcased her dominance, defeating Durga Paradhi 11-5, 11-2, 11-4.

Women’s Results: Shameena Riaz bt Bijali Darvada 11-8, 11-3, 11-6; Mahak Talati bt Mehak Gupta 11-8, 11-9, 11-6; Sunita Patel bt Shibhani Shirwadkar 11-1,11-2,11-1.

The Avaada Otters Squash Open tournament at Otters Club, Bandra, witnessed some thrilling matches yesterday, with Tara Bhandare securing a commendable victory over Kashvi Harlalka in the girls’ U-19 category. 

Tara’s precision interspersed with hard-hitting shots, well-placed strokes and deft drop shots ensured her win in the first two games at 11-7, 11-6. Kashvi mounted a spirited comeback in the third game winning it 11-8, but Tara regained her rhythm to clinch the match with a dominant performance at 11-1 in the fourth game to advance to the round of 16.

In another encounter, Manya Sanghavi demonstrated sheer dominance as she cruised past Samara Munshi 11-1, 11-3, 11-1. Meanwhile, Vinisha Shetty showcased resilience and consistency to edge past Jai Lende at 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.

Boys U-19 Results: Priyanshu Kumar beat Archit Varma 11-1, 11-4, 11-1;

Hriday Rajani beat Ruhhan Arora 11-9, 11-3, 12-10; Jyotiraj Bhadech beat Saksham Tulasiyan 11-4, 11-3, 11-3.