Manjunath clinches crown

 Manjunath S Rathod scored a straight-game victory over Mallikarjun CP to capture the non-medallist title in the fourth Lokmanya State-ranking table tennis tournament here on Sunday.

Rathod, who was tested only in the third game, proved far too good for Mallikarjun, romping home to a 7-11, 11-5, 15-13, 11-7 victory at the at Sangam Bailoor’s TT Academy.

Neeraj Raj S defeated Sucheth P Shenoy 10-12, 13-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-9 to clinch the Sub-junior boys’ title while Archana Kamath beat Spoorthi MV 4-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8 to wear the corresponding girls’ crown.

Results: Non-medallist, final: Manjunath S Rathod (Gul) bt Mallikarjun CP (Gul) 7-11, 11-5, 15-13, 11-7. (Semifinals): Mallikarjun CP bt Sejal Koushik (MTTA) 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5; Manjunath S Rathod (Gul) bt Abhijeeth A Saralaya (MM) 11-9, 11-7, 11-6.

Sub-juniors: Boys, final: Neeraj Raj S (MTTA) bt Sucheth P Shenoy (HOR) 10-12, 13-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-9. (Semifinals): SP Shenoy bt Rohan Jamadhagni (HOR) 11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3; Neeraj Raj S bt Sanketh GS (HOR) 11-8, 11-7, 12-10.

Girls, final: Archana Kamath (MTTA) bt Spoorthi MV (PTTA) 4-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8. (Semifinals): Archana K bt Sushmitha R Bidri (BNMTTA) 11-8, 11-6, 14-12; Spoorthi MV bt Koumudi Patankar (UGB) 11-6, 11-8, 11-7.