Panchkula: In a brilliant display of courage and talent, Haryana’s young sensation Avni Dua today clinched the U13 girls’ singles title, defeating West Bengal’s Titash Chatterjee 3-1 in the fourth UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships at the Tau Devi Lal Multipurpose Indoor Stadium.
For Avni, the victory was anything but routine – and all the more special. After conceding the opening game by a big margin, the local star looked to turn the tide by edging out a thrilling second round and surviving a thrilling challenge in the third game. With the necessary momentum on her side, she sealed the game in style and finished the game confidently with a 6:11, 11:9, 13:11, 11:2 victory and her first national ranking title.
A triumph built on resilience, composure and heart – and a proud moment for Haryana as one of its emerging talents takes a big step onto the national stage.
The pre-quarterfinals of the U-15 Youth Nationals featured high-intensity table tennis marked by comebacks, close finishes and outstanding performances – particularly from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in both categories.
Tamil Nadu shone the most in the boys’ draw, securing four quarterfinal places. JN Sanjey Arwindh started with a solid 11-7, 6-11, 11-3, 11-9 win over Aditya Das of Bengal. AB Tharoon followed with a thrilling five-game win (5-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 11-4) over fellow Bengali paddler Himon Mondal, fighting back twice in a thrilling contest.
Rudranil Jana of Bengal defeated Prateek Tulsani of Maharashtra 11-8, 15-13, 13-11 in a two-game drama while K. Akshay Bhushan of Tamil Nadu outlasted Chandan Caro Sinai of Goa in another thriller to take the tight fourth game 14-12 and win 11-6, 8-11, 11-5. 14-12.
The standout comeback of the day came from Bengal’s Rishaan Chattopadhayay, who saved his campaign with a thrilling 12-10 decision against UP’s Lakshya Kumar, winning 4-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10. Haryana’s Vatsal Duklan also edged out TTFI-1’s Aarav Acharya in a close finish (5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 13-11), while Maharashtra’s Nilay Pattekar won a five-game clash 11-2, 11-9, 8-11, 6-11, 11-3. Akash Rajavelu from Tamil Nadu capped the round with a commanding 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 win over Viren Patail from PSPBA.
In the girls category, West Bengal was at the top with four qualified players. Naisa Rewaskar of Maharashtra defeated Divija Paul of Bengal 11-6, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9 in a tight opening match. In one of the most dramatic clashes, Bengal’s Saturya Banerjee edged teammate Shreya Dhar (9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 14-12, 11-6) in a five-game thriller and saved the game in the fourth game before securing victory.
Maharashtra’s Myraa Sanglekar stood firm and defeated Ahona Ray of Bengal 11-4, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10 while Sreejani Chakraborty of Bengal defeated Radhika Soni (TTFI-1) 11-5, 11-4, 11-4. Tanishka Kalbhairav of Karnataka impressed with a 13-11, 11-1, 11-8 win over Danihya Godil (Guj) and Janvi Garg of Delhi bounced back to defeat NK Harshitha of Kerala 5-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7. Ankolika Chakraborty of Bengal concluded the match with a smooth 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 victory over Saranya Kar.
Results:
Youth Girls U-13: Final: Avni Dua (Har) vs Titash Chatterjee (WB) 6-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-2.
Youth Boys U-15: Pre-Quarterfinals: JN Sanjey Arwindh (TN) vs Aditya Das (WB) 11-7, 6-11, 11-3, 11-9; AB Tharoon (TN) vs. Himon Mondal (WB) 5-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 11-4; Rudranil Jana (WB) vs Prateek Tulsani (Mah) 11-8, 15-13, 13-11; K. Akshay Bhushan (TN) vs. Chandan Caro Sinai (Goa) 11-6, 8-11, 11-5, 14-12; Rishaan Chattopadhyay (WB) vs Lakshya Kumar (UP) 4-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10; Vatsal Duklan (Har) vs Aarav Acharya (TTFI-1) 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 13-11; Nilay Pattekar (Mah) 11-2, 11-9, 8-11, 6-11, 11-3; Akash Rajavelu (TN) vs Viren Patail (PSPBA) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5.
Youth Girls U-15: Pre-quarterfinals: Naisa Rewaskar (Mah) vs. Divija Paul (WB) 11-6, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9; Aarya Redkar (PSPBA) vs Avni Ddua (Har) 11-5, 12-10, 10-12, 5-11, 11-5; Saturya Banerjee (WB) vs. Shreya Dhar (WB) 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 14-12, 11-6; Myraa Sanglekar (Mah) from Ahona Ray (WB) 11-4, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10; Sreejani Chakraborty (WB) vs Radhika Soni (TTFI-1) 11-5, 11-4, 11-4; Tanishka Kalbhairav (Kar) bt Danihya Godil (Guj) 13011, 11-1, 11-8; Janvi Garg (Del) vs NK Harshitha (Ker) 5-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7; Ankolika Chakraborty (WB) vs Saranya Kar (WB) 11-9, 11-7, 11-5.
