Nidhi, Aayush script fairytales

MODASA, SEPT. 19: Ahmedabad’s Nidhi Prajapati came out with a splendid performance while Surat’s Aayush Tanna made the heads turn as they scripted memorable wins to claim the Sub Junior titles at Phase I of 1st Gujarat State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament 2021, organised by Aravalli District Table Tennis Association under the aegis of Gujarat State Table Tennis Association.
Nidhi topped her spectacular performance in the tournament, which is being supported by ML Gandhi Higher Education Society and Rotary Club, Aravalli, to win the Sub Junior Girls’ (U-15) title with an 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 win over top seed Arnee Parmar of Surat.
Aayush, who was seeded fifth, ended his remarkable run in the tournament by beating third seed and local favourite Janmajey Patel 11-7, 11-13, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 to win the Sub Junior Boys’ (U-15) title.
The Girls’ semis saw the biggest upset of the day when a fighting Nidhi turned the tables to record a 1-11, 13-15, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7 win over third seed Riya Jayswal of Bhavnagar.
Arnee too had a battle in hand with her 11-8, 10-12, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6 win over Cadet Girls’ (U-13) champion and fourth seed Pratha Pawar of Ahmedabad.
Pratha took third place after Riya conceded the match due to medical reasons while trailing 5-11 after the first game.
In the quarters, Arnee edged out Baroda’s Sara Arora 11-3, 11-5, 11-9 while Nidhi shocked teammate and second seed Moubini 11-7, 11-4, 11-4. Pratha beat teammate and fifth seed Jiya Trivedi 11-7, 13-11, 10-12, 11-5 while Riya defeated sixth seed Siddhi Bulsara of Navsari 11-9, 11-7, 12-10.
Meanwhile, in the Boys’ semis, which was full of upset wins, Aayush shocked favourite and top seed Himansh Dahiya of Ahmedabad for an 11-8, 11-8, 3-11, 11-8, 11-6 win. Janmejay also came from being two-game down to shock teammate and second seed Harshvardhan Patel 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5.
Himansh settled for the third-place finish with an 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 win over Harshvardhan.
Meanwhile, in the quarters, Janmejay edged out Baroda’s Nij Lakhani 13-15, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6 while Harshvardhan had a battle in hand in his 10-12, 10-12, 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 win over seventh Samarth Shekhawat of Baroda.
Himansh defeated teammate and eighth seed Aarya Kataria 11-4, 4-11, 12-10, 11-7 while Aayush faced little hassle in his 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 shocker over fourth seed Sujal Kukadiya of Bhavnagar, who had won the Cadet Boys’ (U-13) title a day before.