Surat upset defending champions Ahmedabad to storm into men’s team final
Gandhidham: The Surat’s team, comprising Devarsh Vaghela, Ayaz Murad and Aayush Tanna, came up with a superlative show to topple the defending champions Ahmedabad 3-2 in the semi-final of the men’s team championship at the prestigious Jodac Gujarat State and Inter-District Table Tennis Championships 2024, organised by Gujarat State Table Tennis Association (GSTTA), at the Late MP Mittra Indoor Stadium, Haresh Sangtani Sports Complex, in Gandhidham on Tuesday.
The Sports Authority of Gujarat and Kutch District Table Tennis Association (KDTTA)-supported five-day tournament, which carries maximum points in the state TT calendar, is sponsored by Jodac Shipping Line Pvt. Ltd, co-sponsored by State Bank of India, associate sponsored by Kiran Foundation, equipment sponsored by Stiga and Gandhidham Chamber of Commerce & Industries.
The fourth seed Surat team trailed against the top seeds Ahmedabad as Chitrax Bhatt went past Devarsh 3-0 in the opening tie. However, Ayaz got past Monish Dedhia and Aayush beat Abhilash Raval with hand Surat 2-1 lead. Ahmedabad team’s best paddler Chitrax levelled the tie 2-a-piece with a hard-fought win over Ayaz but Devarsh’s victory over Monish ensured Surat’s entry in the final. They will take on second seed Vadodara who beat Rajkot 3-1 in the other semi-final.
In the women’s semi-final, top seed Surat crushed Navsari 3-0 to book their final berth and will slug it out with the second seed Bhavnagar for top honours.
The sub-junior (U-15) girl’s final will be a mouth-watering encounter as top seed Surat will look to stop second seed Bhavnagar’s charge.
Team Semis Scores:
Men’s: Surat (4) bt Ahmedabad (1) 3-2 (Chitrax Bhatt bt Devarsh Vaghela 13-11,11-8,11-7; Ayaz Murad bt Monish Dedhia 11-9,8-11,13-11,3-11,11-6; Aayush Tanna bt Abhilash Raval 11-4,15-13,11-7; Chitrax Bhatt bt Ayaz Murad 4-11,11-8,14-12,11-9; Devarsh Vaghela bt Monish Dedhia 11-6,6-11,11-9,11-4).
Vadodara (2) bt Rajkot 3-1 (Vidit Desai bt Chintan Oza 11-4,11-2,11-3; Jaynil Mehta bt Pratham Madlani 9-11,11-9,11-9,11-4; Jalay Mehta bt Het Thakar 11-9,11-6,11-3; Vidit Desai bt Jaynil Mehta 11-3,11-7,11-5).
Women’s: Bhavnagar (2) bt Ahmedabad (4) 3-2 (Jiya Trivedi bt Namna Jayswal 12-10,6-11,11-6,11-5; Kausha Bhairapure bt Riya Jayswal 9-11,11-6,11-6,11-9; Naitri Dave bt Zena Chipia 11-2,11-4,11-1; Namna Jayswal bt Kausha Bhairapure 11-8,9-11,11-3,8-11,11-4; Riya Jayswal bt Jiya Trivedi 4-11,11-3,8-11,11-5,11-6).
Surat (1) bt Navsari (6) 3-0 (Frenaz Chipia bt Siddhi Bulsara 11-3,8-11,12-10,11-3; Filzahfatema Kadri bt Aastha Mistry 11-5,11-4,11-5; Aafrein Murad bt Jahnavi Patel 11-2,11-5,11-5)
Sub Junior (U-15) girls: Surat (1) bt Kachchh (3) 3-1 (Daniya Godil bt Siddhi Singhvi 11-6,8-11,11-3,11-3; Anaisha Singhvi bt Vishruti Jadav 11-7,11-5,10-12,11-4; Daniya & Vishruti bt Siddhi & Anaisha 11-7,11-6,11-1; Daniya Godil bt Anaisha Singhvi 11-5,11-5,11-0)
Bhavnagar (2) bt Ahmedabad (4) 3-0 (Sachi Doshi bt Jiya Trivedi – Concede; Charmy Trivedi bt Keona Patel 11-6,11-9,11-4; Charmy & Sachi bt Keona & Nitya 11-5,11-6,11-2).