JOIN USSanketh, Spoorthi clinch Junior table tennis titles
Sanketh GS and Spoorthi MV overcame stiff resistance from their respective rivals to wear the boys’ and girls’ Junior crowns in the 7th Belgaum Table Tennis Academy and Union Gymkhana Academy State-ranking table tennis tournament here on Saturday.
In the boys’ final, Sanketh appeared to be breezing past Kaustubh Kulkarni after bagging the first three games. Kulkarni, however, staged a fine recovery, clinching the next three in a row to push the contest into a decider. Sanketh, though, held his nerve to emerge 15-13, 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 9-11, 1-11, 11-2 winner.
Spporthi and Sushmitha Bidri on the other hand traded the first four sets before the former claimed the fifth and sixth for a 12-10, 6-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3 win.
Results: Junior boys’ final: Sanketh GS bt Kaustubh Kulkarni 15-13, 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 9-11, 1-11, 11-2.
Semifinals: Kaustubh bt Dilip G 11-9, 5-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-3; Sanketh bt Rohan Jamadagni 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9.
Quarterfinals: Kaustubh bt Aakash KJ 11-6, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6; Dilio G w/o Shashwat T; Sanketh bt Rathin Kalose 11-5, 11-6, 11-3, 11-5; Rohan bt Neil Gollerkeri 17-15, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8.
Junior girls’ final: Spoorthi MV bt Sushmitha Bidri 12-10, 6-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3.
Semifinals: Spoorthi bt Aditi Joshi 6-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6; Sushmitha bt Yashaswini G 11-8, 11-4, 3-11, 3-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6.
Quarterfinals: Spoorthi bt Prachi Shinde 11-3, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5; Aditi P Joshi bt Aditi N Nandi 11-9, 4-11, 11-1, 11-8, 7-11, 11-3; Yashaswini G bt Swetha J 11-6, 12-10, 11-9, 11-8; Sushmitha bt Keerthi K 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5.
Non-medallist semifinals: Suramit S bt Neil Gollerkeri 11-4, 11-7, 11-3; Aditya K bt Rahul Hulmani 11-13, 13-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7.