Calm and cool as cumber Jignesh Rahatwal turned a virtual defeat as he trailed 0-3 into a thrilling victory over flashy third seed Raegan Albuquerque 4-3 to make the men’s singles semifinals of the Mumbai Suburban District Table Tennis Championships held at Khar Gymkhana here today. Jignesh triumphed 6-11, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9, 13-11.
Jignesh Rahatwal
Known for his aggressive display on both flanks Raegan was up 3-0 before Jignesh could find his bearings. However, the turning point came in the fourth game, when Jignesh fought back tellingly to grab the game over extra points. Jignesh thereafter was much more in control of the proceedings as he went on to take the next two game to take the tie to the wire. Piqued by the loss of three games after leading 3-0, Reagan became rather tentative while Jignesh kept abreast in the decider to grab a spot in the last four.
However, Reagan, who is top seeded in the junior boys singles, earlier downed Jash Jobalia 11-8, 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 to make the semifinals, where he takes on Shivam Das, who got the better of bt Ritwik Nagle 11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9.
Results: Men’s singles (Quarterfinals): (6) Jignesh Rahatwal bt (3) Raegan Albuquerque 6-11, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9, 13-11; Shivam Das bt Mukund Jain 11-4, 11-7, 11-5, 5-11, 11-2; Viren Patel bt Suhas Rane 11-8, 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 14-12; (2) Bhavitvya Shah bt Parth Rambhia 11-7, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9.
Jr boys singles (Quarterfinals): (1) Raegan Albuquerque bt Jash Jobalia 11-8, 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9; Shivam Das bt Ritwik Nagle 11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9.
Jr girls singles (Quarterfinals): (1) Vidhi Shah bt Paridhi Potnis 11-9, 11-5, 3-11, 11-4, 11-13, 11-8; Vidhi Dhoot bt Divya Keni 12-10, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.
CLOCK FOR Sunday
Table tennis – 9 a.m. onwards-Mumbai Suburban Dist Championships, Khar Gymkhana.