Defending champions Andheri YMCA, in the absence of star players like international Sanil Shetty, Aman Balgu and Noel Pinto, are likely to face tough challenge from last year’s finalist Santacruz Gymkhana for the premier Division honours in the MSDTTA Inter-Club Table Tennis League, which gets underway from tomorrow (Thursday, May 26) at Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana Club.
Nishad Shah
The Andheri YMCA will have the services of former State champion Eric Fernandes, Dheera Rai, Aditya Mahagaonkar and exciting state player Shaurya Pednekar, while the Santacruz Gymkhana will be with India ranked Nishaad Shah, and juniors like Shubham Ambre and Rutwick Pandirkar, all capable of upsetting the apple cart of the defending champions.
Eric Fernandes
The women’s premier division honours will be straight contest between last year’s winners, Mulund Gymkana and India No.6 Divya Deshpande-led Santacruz Gymkhana. The Mulund outfit of seasoned Mrunmayee Mhatre, Charve Kawle and Priti Mokashi will find it tough with the current state Champion Divya Deshpande alongwith juniors like Shruti Talnikar and Siddhi Kolekar in their ranks likely to pose a tough challenge to their domination.
The play-offs of the second, third and fourth divisions will also be played alongwith the premier division ties from Thursday onwards.
CLOCK FOR THURSDAY
TABLE TENNIS – 4 p.m. onwards – MSDTTA 1st division men and women’s league, Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana.