Surat women, Vadodara Men defend their titles successfully at State Championships in Gandhidham
Gandhidham Oct. 4: Surat Women and Vadodara Men defended their titles successfully at the Late Shree Mahendraray Dulerai Buch State and Inter District Table Tennis Championships 2019 at KDTTA stadium in Gandhidham. Interestingly, in both the team event finals Bhavnagar was at the receiving end.
The champions registered an identical – 3-1 – margin victory.
Men’s final seemed like a repetition of last year’s final where Vadodara and Bhavnagar fought for the crown. Moreover, outcome was the same too, as Vadodara won 3-1.
Jalay Mehta overpowered Jignesh Jayswal 11-4 11-8 11-3 and gave Vadodara a winning start before Manush Shah displayed his talent. Manush, who didn’t drop a single game in the knockout stage, dominated the table to beat Kaushal Bhatt (11-9 12-10 1-9) first and then followed with another clinical performance against seasoned Jignesh Jayswal (11-5 11-6 11-8).
The confidence of the left-hander was impeccable and his free-flowing strokes were always difficult for Bhavnagar paddlers to handle. Manush’s victory over Jignesh guaranteed Baroda to keep the Men’s trophy with them. It was Vidit Desai’s loss against Karanpal Jadeja, in the third match, that compelled the fourth rubber between Manush and Jignesh.
In the women’s section, it was sweep of titles for Surat. Couple of paddlers who had tasted the success with Junior Girls trophy earlier in the afternoon, guided the senior team to yet another podium finish.
Leading from the front, seasoned paddler and captain Frenaz Chipia with her flawless backhand and forehand winners handed Prarthna Parmar a 14-12 11-4 11-6 defeat. In the next match, Filzahfatema Kadri wasted no time to dispatch Namna Jayswal. The rubber that didn’t last for more than 18 minutes saw Filzah recording 11-8 11-7 14-12 victory.
In the third match of the best-of-the-five format, seasoned and Bhavnagar-based Divya Gohil reduced the margin by defeating talented Aafrien Murad 11-5 11-8 11-5. However, Divya’s victory was mere consolation as Frenaz closed the doors for Bhavnagaris when she dropped a game in her 11-6 3-11 11-7 11-5 victory over Namna. Last year Surtis had beaten Ahmedabad for the title.
Results
Finals team events
Women: Surat bt Bhavnagar 3-1
Frenaz Chipia bt Prarthna Parmar 14-12 11-4 11-6
Filzahfatema Kadri bt Namna Jayswal 11-8 11-7 12-10
Aafrien Murad lost to Divya Gohil 5-11 8-11 5-11
Frenaz Chipia bt Namna Jayswal 11-6 3-11 11-7 11-5
Men: Vadodara bt Bhavnagar 3-1
Jalay Mehta bt Jignesh Jayswal 11-4 11-8 11-3
Manush Shah bt Kaushal Bhatt 11-9 12-10 11-9
Vidit Desai lost to Karanpal Jadeja 9-11 3-11 6-11
Manush Shah bt Jignesh Jayswal 11-5 11-6 11-8