Ahmedabad’s Prasunna two good in Sonepat
Ahmedabad’s Prasunna Parekh claims double crown at the National Masters Table Tennis Championships
Ahmedabad-based paddler Prasunna Parekh shone with Women’s 40+ singles and 40+ mixed doubles title at the 27th National Masters Table Tennis Championships 2019 held in Sonepat, Haryana. This was second Masters’ singles title for Prasunna, having won in Jaipur two years ago. Prasunna Parekh claimed two Gold, one Silver and one Bronze Medal in the above National Championships.
Prasunna won mixed doubles with her Rajkot-based elder brother Gaurav Doshi while in the company of Chaitali Udeshi, she bagged silver in the women’s doubles.
In the singles final, Prasunna faced Meenu Basak of Bengal. The Gujarati paddler with her flawless game hadn’t dropped a single game before she faced Meenu in the final. The Bengal paddler seemed determined to halt Prasunna’s unique record. Moreover, when these two ladies clashed in the final at Indore Masters last year, Meenu had won.
However, this time, the Gujarati paddler, who has been in a good form, showed no mercy to her opponent and dominated the table with some fabulous forehand and backhand winners.
“I had lost against Meenu in Indore last year and had worked hard to win this. Moreover, having played departmental games recently, I was warmed up and confident before coming to Sonepat. Meenu’s cut are difficult to handle, but I managed it very well. I am really happy,” said Prasunna after winning second national title. Two years ago, she had won singles title in Jaipur.
Earlier in the semifinals, she beat Radhika Suresh of Kerala 11-3 12-10 11-9. It was only time in the singles competition when the Amdavadi played decider point, 12-10 in second.
In the quarters and pre-quarters, Prasunna beat Sarika Varade (Maharashtra) 11-5 11-9 11-5 and Indrani Chatterjee of Bengal 11-1 11-3 11-5 respectively.
Meanwhile, in the mixed doubles event, Prasunna paired with her elder brother Gaurav. The siblings showed amazing understanding as they beat Shivakumar M. K. and Deepali Shital Gotadke of Karnataka 11-4 11-7 11-8. This was first national title for Gaurav. “This title is going to be memorable. Not only because it is my first national masters’ title for me, but it also came in the company of my champion sister,” elated Gaurav stated.
In the doubles, Prasunna in the company of Chaitali Udeshi bagged silver in the 40+ Women’s doubles section. They went down fighting to the Karnataka pair of Deepali Shital Gotadke and Anjana P Rao 11-6 8-11 11-8 15-17 4-11. Prasunna-Chaitali, in the semifinals, rallied from two games down to overcome Sarika Varade and Shruti Kanade of Maharashtra 8-11 8-11 11-4 11-9 14-12.
Kokilaben completes double too
Meanwhile, Baroda-based Kokila Patel also completed a grand double as she won singles and mixed doubles title in 65+ women’s event. She beat Radhika Pradhan of Sikkim 11-8 11-9-11-7 in the final. She bagged the mixed doubles crown with Surat-based Nazmi Khinkhabwala. The Gujarat duo beat Preeti Pardeshi and Suhas Dandekar of Maharashtra 12-10 12-10 11-4.
Gujarat paddlers bagged three bronze medals. Jaydendra Kapadiya won bronze in 70+ Men’s and Sudhir Bhatt with his semi-final finish in 80+ Men’s section walked away with bronze. Pair of Rasik Dave and Jagdish Pathak returned with third position in the 70+ Men’s doubles event.
The team events that were held on first two days of the Championships saw Gujarat teams among the podium finishers. Men’s 60+ team that included Kshitish Purohit, Baldeshbhai Vaghela and Shambhaji Tawde went down fighting to Maharashtra and settle for Silver. Women’s 40+ team comprising Prasunna, Chaitali and Sarjula Vasava won bronze so did the 40+ Men’s team which had Gaurav Doshi, Rujul Patel, Sikander Jam, Amish Patel and Dhyanesh Bhatt
In all Gujarat players claimed four Gold, two Silver and Six Bronze Medals.