Dhyey scripts a memorable win, Nidhi remains unbeaten to win Sub Junior crowns

VALSAD, Oct 9: Unseeded Dhyey Jani of Bhavnagar capped his fairytale run with a memorable win while Ahmedabad’s Nidhi Prajapati once again showed that she is unstoppable at the state ranking tournaments so far this season as they won the Sub Junior titles at the 2nd Gujarat State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament 2021 (Phase I) that is being organised by the Valsad District Table Tennis Association under the aegis of Gujarat State Table Tennis Association from October 8 to 10.
In the Sub Junior Boys’ (U-15) final of the tournament, which is supported by Shivam Developers and Rotary Club of Valsad, Dhyey came from being 1-2 down to beat second seeded Harshvardhan Patel of Aravalli 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 to win the title.
At the Nagar Palika Sports Complex Indoor Stadium, fourth seeded Nidhi, who had won the title at the 1st State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament in Modasa, edged out teammate and second seeded Pratha Parmar 11-7, 6-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 to win the Sub Junior Girls’ (U-15) title.
In the Sub Junior Boys’ (U-15) category, Dhyey was an epitome of resilience throughout the tournament as he rang the warning bell with an 11-8, 8-11, 18-16, 11-7 win over fourth seed Janmejay Patel of Aravalli in the quarters.
In the semis, Dhyey scripted a big win when he shocked top seed Himansh Dahiya of Ahmedabad 11-7, 11-6, 12-14, 11-6, 3-11, 11-6 to seal the final berth.
In the second semis, Harshvardhan twice came from behind to beat third seed Arya Kataria of Ahmedabad 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-6, 12-10.
Himansh settled for the third-place finish with an 11-3, 11-6, 11-9 win over teammate Arya.
Despite her dominance in the Sub Junior Girls’ category, Nidhi survived a scare to record an unforgettable comeback in the semi-finals where she beat eighth seed Jiya Trivedi of Ahmedabad 9-11, 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 12-10, 13-11, 11-2 in what could be termed as the match of the day.
In the other semi-final, Pratha came from a game down to beat third seed Riya Jayswal of Bhavnagar 3-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-3, 11-4.
Jiya, who had shocked top seed Arnee Parmar of Surat 10-12, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 13-11 in the quarters, settled for a third-place finish with an 11-2, 11-5, 11-7 win over Riya.
Meanwhile, in the opening round of the Hopes Girls’ (U-11) category of Gujarat State Table Tennis Championships 2021, which is being played concurrently, sixth seed Daniya Godil of Surat breezed past Valsad’s Jenisha Jhunjhunwala 11-1, 11-5, 11-3 while fifth seed Khwaish Lotia of Ahmedabad defeated Tanisha Deputy of Surat 11-4, 11-4, 11-13, 11-4. Fourth seed Richa Rawat of Surat eased past Valsad’s Nyasha Mehta 11-4, 11-9, 11-7 while Rashida Dagniwala of Surat beat teammate Jeevika Patel 11-5, 11-4, 11-1.
KEY RESULTS:
Sub Junior Boys (U-15)
F: Dhyey Jani (BVN) vs 2-Harshvardhan Patel (ARV) 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5
3/4 : 1-Himansh Dahiya (AHD) def 3-Arya Kataria (AHD) 11-3, 11-6, 11-9
SF: Dhyey Jani (BVN) def 1-Himansh Dahiya (AHD) 11-7, 11-6, 12-14, 11-6, 3-11, 11-6
2-Harshvardhan Patel (ARV) def 3-Arya Kataria (AHD) 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-6, 12-10
QF: 1-Himansh Dahiya (AHD) def 8-Ayush Tanna (SRT) 11-7, 11-9, 11-13, 2-11, 11-5
Dhyey Jani (BVN) def 4-Janmejay Patel (ARV) 11-8, 8-11, 18-16, 11-7
3-Arya Kataria (AHD) def 6-Sujal Kukadiya (BVN) 11-5, 11-8, 11-3
2-Harshvardhan Patel (ARV) def 7-Nij Lakhani (BRD) 11-6, 12-10, 11-7
Sub Junior Girls (U-15)
F: 4-Nidhi Prajapati (AHD) def 2-Pratha Parmar (AHD) 11-7, 6-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7
3/4: 8-Jiya Trivedi (AHD) def 3-Riya Jayswal (BVN) 11-2, 11-5, 11-7
SF: 4-Nidhi Prajapati (AHD) def 8-Jiya Trivedi (AHD) 9-11, 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 12-10, 13-11, 11-2
2-Pratha Parmar (AHD) def 3-Riya Jayswal (BVN) 3-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-3, 11-4
QF: 8-Jiya Trivedi (AHD) def 1-Arnee Parmar (SRT) 10-12, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 13-11
4-Nidhi Prajapati (AHD) def 5-Siddhi Bulsara (NVS) 9-11, 11-5, 11-2, 8-11, 11-3
3-Riya Jayswal (BVN) def Sara Arora (BRD) 11-9, 11-6, 11-4
2-Pratha Pawar (AHD) def 7-Moubini Chatterjee (AHD) 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 12-10
PQF: Sara Arora (BRD) def 6-Jahnavi Patel (NVS) 11-4, 11-5, 11-8
Hopes Girls (U-11)
PQF: 6-Daniya Godil (SRT) def Jenisha Jhunjhunwala (VLD) 11-1, 11-5, 11-3
5-Khwaish Lotia (AHD) def Tanisha Deputy (SRT) 11-4, 11-4, 11-13, 11-4
4-Richa Rawat (SRT) def Nyasha Mehta (VLD) 11-4, 11-9, 11-7
Rashida Dagniwala (SRT) def Jeevika Patel (SRT) 11-5, 11-4, 11-1
Written by : Pranjal Protim Boruah