PJ Hindu Gymkhana( PJHG) Table Tennis has topped the table in Group A to qualify for the semi final berth in the eight team Inter Club TT league played at the PJ Hindu Gymkhana today morning. The invitational tournament is being played among the Clubs/ gymkhanas in South Mumbai, to celebrate 125th year of PJ Hindu Gymkhana.
PJHG team with 9 points secured top position in Group A
The host team comprising of Premjit Rananavare, Pinakin Sampat, Rajesh Pandit, Jaideep Maheshwari, Ojas Choksi, Ulhas Shirke, J.Unadkat & Maria D’sa combined very well to prove their supremacy scoring maximum of 9 points in the group A while competing with teams like Students YMCA, Garware Club House & Malabar Hill Club.
Interestingly, the host played all veteran players in their team who displayed fantastic performance against their younger opponents. Their first big win 4-1 was against Garware Club House( GCH) , followed by 3-2 win over stronger looking Students YMCA team. Having gained maximum seven points at the end of their two matches, the host team members seemed relaxed, as they lost 2-3 to Malabar Hill Club. But, those two points were enough for them to finish at the top of the table with 9 points.
Garware Club House team claimed 2nd position to qualify for semis
There was a good fight for the second position, between Garware Club House and Students YMCA, as the win in this match was to take the winners to semi finals. And this close battle was won by Garware Club House, which celebrated their win after the deciding match was won by their star player Dhruv Jhaveri against Mumbai Games 40+ Champion Percy Mehta. But, little before that Dhruv partnering krisha Agarwal scored a well deserved 2-0 doubles win over Anuj Shah & Aryan to level the set score at 2-2. At the end of the Group A league matches, Garware Club House, Students YMCA & Malabar Hill Club had tied with 7 points each, but Garware Club House having beaten the other two teams to occupy the 2nd position and entry into semis.
Dhruv Jhaveri( R) wishes Percy Mehta(L) before the start of their deciding match in the league
In the semi finals, PJHG and Garware Club House will play the top two teams from the Group B league tomorrow evening . In the meanwhile, the Group B teams comprising of PJHG ( team 2), Garware Club House( team 2), Cricket Club of India( CCI) and Radio Club will fight for their semi final berths today evening.
The Group A team League Scores in detail :
PJHG beat Student YMCA 3-2 : Premjit Rananavare lost to Sarosh Shroff 12-10, 11-5; Ojas Choksi /JD Maheshwari lost to Percy Mehta/ Sarosh Shroff ; Rajesh Pandit bt Percy Shroff 11-8,9-11,11-6; Pinakin Sampat bt Shane Sequeira 11-6,12-10; Ulhas Shirke/ Pinakin Sampat bt Veer Asher / Arya Joshi 11-4, 11-9.
PJHG bt Garware Club House 4-1 : Premjit Rananavare bt Pankaj Harlalka 8-11,11-3,11-9; Pinakin Sampat/JD Maheshwari bt Dhruv Jhaveri/Tarun S 11-9,9-11,13-11; Rajesh Pandit lost to Dhruv Jhaveri 6-11,8-11; Ulhas Shirke/Ojas Choksi bt Pankaj Harlalka / Niraj Mehta 11-9,12-10; Pinakin Sampat bt krisha Agarwal 11-7,6-11,11-7.
Garware Club House bt Malbar Hill Club 3-2 : Dhruv Jhaveri bt Arjan 11-6,11-7; Dhruv/Krisha bt Mansasvi Anish 12-10,11-6; Abhay lost to Manasvi 7-11,12-10, 5-11; Pankaj Harlalka / Niraj bt Dhrumil/Bhavesh 11-1,11-9; Krisha Agarwal lost to Anish 10-12,8-11.
Garware Club House bt Student YMCA 3-2 : Pankaj Harlalka lost to Sarosh Shroff 11-13, 8-11; Dhruv/ Krisha bt Arya/Anuj 13-11,11-8; Dhruv Jhaveri bt Percy Mehta 11-7,11-2; Niraj/Tarun lost to Percy/Sarosh 4-11,8-11; Krisha bt Veer 13-11, 11-7.
Student YMCA bt Malabar Hill Club 3-2 : Rayomond M bt Manasvi Toprani 7-11,11-7,11-5; Rayomond M/ Veer Asher lost to Anish Sanghai/ Manasvi Toprani 6-11.11-13; Veer Asher bt Arjun Shah 11-4,11-5; Anuj Shah lost to Aneesh 12-10, 7-11,6-11; Veer/Shane bt Arjun/Bhavesh 11-7,11-5; Percy Mehta/ Sarosh Shroff bt Dhaval & Partner 11-1,11-8.
Malabar Hill Club bt PJHG 3-2 : Manasvi Toprani bt Premjit Rananavare 11-5,11-13,11-8; Manaswi /Anish lost to Rajesh/JD 5-11,11-6,11-8; Bhavesh Shah lost to Pinakin Sampat 8-11,6-11; Arjun/Dhaval bt Pinakin/Ulhas 11-9,12-10; Anish Sanghai bt Ojas Choksi 6-11,11-8,11-3.