Gujarat women secure historic medal at Senior National TT
Riding on the heroics of Gujarat captain Kritwikka Sinha Roy, the Gujarat women’s team upend higher-ranked Tamil Nadu team to march into the semi-finals and guarantee a medal
Surat, Dt January 21:In the history of 86 years of the senior nationals, this will be Gujarat women team’s maiden podium finish.
The Championships is organized by Gujarat State Table Tennis Association (GSTTA) and Table Tennis Association of Surat District (TTASD) under the aegis of Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) with the support of Sports Authority of India (SAI), Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG) and Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).
The title sponsor of the event is UTT and the event is powered by Hero, co-sponsored by NJ Group, associate sponsored by Gujarat Tourism, ONGC, Pratibha Group and Airport Authority of India. Stiga will be equipment partners while SIDS Hospital will be the medical partner.
Gujarat team, consisting of Roy (Capt), Frenaz Chipia, Oishiki Joardar, Filzahfatema Kadri and Riya Jaiswal, were off to a flying start with state’s rising paddler Oishiki earned a hard-fought 3-2 win over the more experienced S Selena in the quarterfinal’s opening tie.
Krittwika then breezed past S Yashini 3-1 to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
In the third encounter, local girl Frenaz Chipia overcame a 2-game deficit to level the match at 2 games apiece against B Kavyasree but lost the thriller 2-3 giving the TN girls a glimmer of hope at 2-1.
However, Krittwika’s years of experience of playing in crunch situations helped her overcome the pressure of wasting five match points to go past S Selena 3-1 to take Gujarat to the last four stage and ensure they wear a medal around their neck for the first time ever in the tournament’s history.
After the emphatic win, Krittwika informed that Gujarat team lost to the same Tamil Nadu team with the same score line in quarters of the 85th Senior National and Inter-State TT Championship in Panchkula in 2023. “Since we both knew each other’s game, my tactic of slowing the game down in my second match aided me this time,” the 30-year-old said.
Expressing his delight on Gujarat women’s maiden medal at senior nationals, GSTTA president and organising chairman Shri Pramod Chaudhary extended his warm wishes to the whole squad. “The long wait for a medal in the women’s category in TT’s most prestigious tournament has come to an end today. This medal will serve as a stepping stone to the state’s quest to glory at the highest level,” shri Chaudhary said.
Meanwhile, Gujarat men’s team failed to enter the quarters after their heart-breaking 2-3 loss to TTFI-1 in the pre-quarterfinals.
Score:
Gujarat women bt Tamil Nadu women 3-
Oishiki Joardar bt S Selena 3-2 (8-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6)
Krittwika Sinha Roy bt S Yashini 3-1 (11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 12-10)
Frenaz Chipia lost to B Kavyasree 2-3 (9-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-6, 10-12)
Krittwika Sinha Roy bt S Selena 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8).