Bhavya, Aafrien split wins
4th Gujarat State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament 2019 at Vidhyanagar produces surprising results
Vidhyanagar, September 5: They have two things in common, city and passion for table tennis. And when the two Surtis Bhavya Jayswal and Aafrien Murad met twice in span of two hours, in two different categories, at the ongoing 4th Gujarat State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament 2019 being played at H. M. Patel Badminton Hall, Vidhyanagar they produced blockbuster each time.
And not surprisingly both the paddlers shared equal honours winning one each. Bhavya Jayswal won the Youth Girls’ quarters while Aafrien conquered her city mate in the women’s semifinal.
The high-intensity, edge-of-the-seat entertainment for the crowd gathered at H.M. Patel badminton hall began with Youth Girls’ quarters. Bhavya lost he first game but came back strongl. She engaged Aafrien in rallies, playing return shots on either sides of the table to record a 3-11 11-4 11-9 11-6 6-11 11-9 win.
However, in the women’s semis Aafrien seemed to have had done her homework. With some powerful forehand returns, the southpaw, Aafrien produced clinical winners. Bhavya, who is yet to win title, looked nervous and was guilty of scoring unforced errors. Aafrien cantered home with a straight games 11-8 12-10 12-10 11-6 win. Aafrien will meet Bhavnagar ‘s Divya Gohil in the final. She beat Angel Parkar of Ahmedabad, who impressed everyone with her energetic display. Angel had progressed to quarters at the expense of Kausha Bhairapure with an upset 8-11 12-10 12-14 11-8 11-6 11-8 win.
“Bhavya is improving her game. On first day she beat women’s top seed Namna Jayswal. It’s a good sign. She has potential,” said Hraday Desai, Bhavya’s coach.
Meanwhile, the men’s section also witnessed a few shocking results in the quarterfinal stage. Bhavnagar’s Harshil Kothari upset top seed Ishaan Hingorani of Kutch in a nail-biting encounter 11-9 11-9 11_13 9-11 11-6 3-11 11-7. Ahmedabad’s Chitrax Bhatt shocked former State champion and Baroda pladdler Jalay Mehta 13-11 13-11 11-4 11-4 win. Also among the winners in the last-8 stage were two Bhavnagar paddlers Jignesh Jayswal and Karanpal Jadeja.
Results
Women’s – Quarters
Bhavya Jayswal (srt) bt Namna Jayswal (bvn) 3-11 11-4 11-9 11-6 6-11 11-9, Angel Parkar (ahm) bt Kausha Bhairapure (ahm) 8-11 12-10 12-14 11-8 11-6 11-8, Divya Gohil (bvn) bt Tanya Purohit (srt) 11-5 6-11 11-7 11-8, Aafrien Murad (srt) bt Hely Shah (ahm) 11-6 9-11 8-11 11-8 5-11 11-3 11-6
Semis : Aafrien Murad (srt) bt Bhavya Jayswal (srt) 11-8 12-10 12-10 11-6, Divya Gohil (bvn) bt Angel Parkar (srt) 11-8 11-13 12-10 7-11 11-4 11-6
Youth Girls – Quarters
Kausha Bhairapure (ahm) bt Kavisha Parekh (bvn) 11-8 11-3 11-7 11-4, Prarthna Parmar (bvn) bt Purva Nimbalkar (brd) 11-4 11-9 7-11 11-6 11-5, Bhavya Jayswal (srt) bt Aafrien Murad (srt) 4-11 11-7 11-7 14-12 11-8, Filzahfatema Kadri (srt) bt Charmi Patel (bvn) 9-11 11-8 11-8 11-5 11-8
Men’s – Quarters
Jignesh Jayswal (bvn) bt Dhairya Parmar (ahm) 11-3 14-12 10-12 10-12 11-3 11-3, Karanpal Jadeja (bvn) bt Kaushal Bhatt (bvn) 11-9 11-5 11-6 11-8, Chitrax Bhatt (ahm) bt Jalay Mehta (brd) 13-11 13-11 11-4 11-9, Harshil Kothari (bvn) bt Ishaan Hingorani (kch) 11-9 11-9 11-13 9-11 11-6 3-11 11-7