PANAJI
The men’s singles final unfolded with surprising calm, largely due to the early exits of top contenders. Young Ankur Bhattacharjee, who seized the opportunity, stepped into the spotlight with poise and determination. He delivered a masterful performance, decisively overcoming fellow rising star Ronit Bhanja to claim the men’s singles title. This victory represents a significant milestone in Ankur’s burgeoning career, highlighting his immense potential to leave a lasting mark on the table tennis world.
On the women’s side, anticipation was ripe as young Yashaswini Ghorpade aimed for her second title after her recent triumph in Kangra. However, the ever-resilient Sutirtha Mukherjee, rejuvenated by her recent bronze-medal success in women’s doubles at the Asian Championships, stepped on the gas pedal to reclaim her glory. With the blend of experience and tenacity, Sutirtha overcame Yashaswini 4-2, securing a long-awaited title and reminding everyone of her formidable presence in the sport.
Earlier, in the all-Railways men's singles semifinal, Anirban Ghosh took a 2-1 lead but Ronit fought back to 3-2. Though Anirban leveled, Ronit’s determination won him the match in the final game.
Ankur beat Yashansh Malik 4-2 in another semifinal, holding off Yashansh’s brief comeback to reach the final.
On the women’s side, Yashaswini Ghorpade reached her second straight final, easily beating Jennifer Varghese 4-0. Sutirtha Mukherjee held off a late challenge from Taneesha Kotecha for a 4-2 win.
Results:
Men’s Singles: Final: Ankur Bhattacharjee (PSPB) bt Ronit Bhanja (RSPB) 11-7, 11-5, 12-10, 13-11.
Semifinals: Ronit Bhanja bt Anirban Ghosh (RSPB) 10-12, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-3; Ankur Bhattacharjee bt Yashansh Malik (Del) 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7.
Quarterfinals: Ronit bt P.B. Abhinand (TN) 3-0; Anirban bt Deepit R. Patil (AAI) 3-1; Yashansh bt Shankhadip Das (WB) 3-0; Ankur bt Manush Shah (RBI) 3-0.
Women’s Singles: Final: Sutirtha Mukherjee (RSPB) bt Yashaswini Ghorpade (PSPB) 11-7, 5-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3.
Semifinals: Yashaswini Ghorpade bt Jennifer Varghese (Mah) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8; Sutirtha Mukherjee bt Taneesha Kotecha (Mah) 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 11-2.
Quarterfinals: Jennifer bt Kaushani Nath (RSPB) 3-1; Yashaswini bt Anusha Kutumbale (RSPB) 3-2; Sutirtha bt Diya Chitale (RBI) 3-1; Taneesha bt Yashini Sivashankar (RSPB) 3-2.
