Akshit takes time out for his maiden men’s title; Business as usual for Frenaz, Filzah

Rotomag 3rd Gujarat State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament 2021

ANAND, OCT. 15: It was a battle of first-time men’s finalists and Ahmedabad’s Akshit Savla relied on his time-tested formula as he quelled a spirited challenge from Shlok Bajaj of Surat to win his maiden Men’s singles title at the Rotomag 3rd Gujarat State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament 2021, organised by the Anand District Table Tennis Association under the aegis of Gujarat State Table Tennis Association.
The second day of the tournament, title sponsored by Rotomag Motors Private Limited and co-sponsored by Vidya Wires, Charotar Gas Sahkari Mandali Limited and Atlanta Electricals Limited, was reverberated with some exciting results in the Men’s draw that culminated with second seed Akshit recording a 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7 win over 15-year-old Shlok, the fourth seed, in the final at the Yugpurush Vivekanand Sports Complex.
“It is a dream come true,” Akshit said after the match. “I had played against him before and I know he is an extremely talented player. But I had my plans. I took time to settle down, analyse my opponent and focus on one point at a time. I think that worked for me,” the 22-year-old added.
Earlier in the semis, Shlok shocked top seed Ishaan Hingorani of Kachchh 11-6, 11-2, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-4 while Akshit’s steely nerves saw him ending Surat’s Ayaz Murad’s dream run in the tournament with an 11-8, 7-11, 11-3, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6.
“I think the semi-final win over Ayaz was a big confidence booster for me. He was really playing well in the tournament and I squandered a 2-1 lead to fall behind 3-2. I took some time out between the points to settle down and that worked for me,” Akshit added.
Ayaz had something to cheer as he took third place with a 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 win over Ishaan, who appeared out of sorts on Friday.
Meanwhile, it was double heartbreak for Shlok, seeded third in the category, as he lost the Junior Boys’ (U-19) final 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 5-11, 5-11 against fourth seed Harshil Kothari of Bhavnagar.
In the semis, Shlok shocked second seeded Abhilash Raval of Ahmedabad 11-7, 3-11, 11-5, 13-11, 6-11, 11-9 while Harshil toppled top seed Burhanuddin Malubhai 11-5, 8-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-6.
Abhilash took third place with an 11-4, 11-4, 11-2 win over Burhanuddin.
On the other hand, it was business as usual in the Women’s and Junior Girls’ (U-19) finals.
Top seed Frenaz Chipia of Surat beat third seed Prathna Parmar of Bhavnagar 11-6, 11-7, 14-12, 11-4 to win the Women’s title.
Frenaz’s teammate Filzah Fatema Kadri, the top seed in the category, won the Junior Girls’ (U-19) title beating second seed Namna Jayswal of Bhavnagar 11-7, 11-9, 11-3, 11-9 in the final.
In the women’s semis, Prathna overcame former champion Divya Gohil of Bhavnagar 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 5-11, 4-11, 11-3, 11-7 while Frenaz defeated fourth seed Filzah 11-7, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8.
Filzah settled for the third place finish with an 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7 win over Divya.
In the Sub Junior Girls’ (U-19) semis, Namna came from two-game down to beat third seed Kausha Bhairapure of Ahmedabad 8-11, 4-11, 11-6, 12-10, 15-13, 11-8 while Filzah beat teammate and fourth seed Aafrein Murad 11-4, 4-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5
Kausha took third place with an 11-3, 15-13, 11-8 win over Aafrein.
KEY RESULTS
Men’s
F: 2-Akshit Savla (AHD) def 4-Shlok Bajaj (SRT) 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7
SF: 2-Akshit Savla (AHD) def Ayaz Murad (SRT) 11-8, 7-11, 11-3, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6
4-Shlok Bajaj (SRT) def 1-Ishaan Hingorani (KCH) 11-6, 11-2, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-4
3/4: Ayaz Murad (SRT) vs 1-Ishaan Hingorani (KCH) 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7
Women’s
F: 1-Frenaz Chipia (SRT) def 3-Prathna Parmar (BVN) 11-6, 11-7, 14-12, 11-4
SF: 3-Prathna Parmar (BVN) def Divya Gohil (BVN) 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 5-11, 4-11, 11-3, 11-7
1-Frenaz Chipia (SRT) def 4-Filzah Fatema Kadri (SRT) 11-7, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8
3/4: 4-Filzah Fatema Kadri (SRT) def Divya Gohil (BVN) 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7
Junior Girls’ (U-19)
F: 1-Filzah Fatema Kadri (SRT) def 2-Namna Jayswal (BVN) 11-7, 11-9, 11-3, 11-9
SF: 2-Namna Jayswal (BVN) def 3-Kausha Bhairapure 8-11, 4-11, 11-6, 12-10, 15-13, 11-8
1-Filzah Fatema Kadri (SRT) def 4-Aafrein Murad (SRT) 11-4, 4-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5
3/4: 3-Kausha Bhairapure def 4-Aafrein Murad (SRT) 11-3, 15-13, 11-8
Junior Boys’ (U-19)
F: 4-Harshil Kothari (BVN) def 3-Shlok Bajaj (SRT) 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5
SF: 3-Shlok Bajaj (SRT) def 2-Abhilash Raval (AHD) 11-7, 3-11, 11-5, 13-11, 6-11, 11-9
4-Harshil Kothari (BVN) def 1-Burhanuddin Malubhai 11-5, 8-11, 14-12, 11-7, 11-6
3/4: 2-Abhilash Raval (AHD) def 1-Burhanuddin Malubhai 11-4, 11-4, 11-2
Written by : Pranjal Protim Boruah