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Abhinand’s heroics helps TN win U-15 team trophy at UTT 84th Inter-State Sub-Junior and Cadet Championships

Alappuzha: Tamil Nadu’s Under-15 Youth Boys defeated Assam 3-1 to win the team final and lift the glittering trophy in the UTT 84th Inter-State Sub-Junior and Cadet Championships at N.C. John Memorial Arena of YMCA today.

The runners-up in the previous team championships held at Dharamsala in 2019 turned it around on P.B. Abhinand’s cool and calm demeanour, a hidden weapon in his armoury, that paved the way for the title win.

Priyanuj Bhattacharyya of Assam, his opponent in the reverse singles, was coasting nicely at 10-8 in the decisive fifth game of the fourth rubber. He should have won the tie to give a semblance of a chance to Assam, the team almost at the doorstep of a possible maiden title in the section.

Left alone, Priyanuj would have done exactly that. But from the outside, two of his known coaches from Delhi threw in bits of advice besides the team coach offering a few at all times, spoiling the team’s night party. When Abhinand served, a confused Priyanuj’s block went out, adding to his owes. At 9-10, Abhinand’s second service fetched the crucial point for the deuce when Priynuj returned at the nets.

Keeping his cool, Abhinand went for the kill straightway when the service returned to Priyanuj and held the tie and title point. On his turn, Abhinand served deep, and his frustrated opponent pushed the ball into the nets for Abhinand and the TN bench to erupt. The celebration and the high-fives followed with the team bench congratulating Abhinand for his forbearance.

That was the intensity the Assam and the Tamil Nadu boys brought into the final. The former played consistently until last night, and Divyaj Rajkhowa Roy was the architect as Priyanuj played his role to perfection. But it was not the opening they would have liked as Abhinand decimated him in the first rubber. Rubbing salt in the wounds, Umesh Kumar upped the ante in the second, beating Priyanuj 3-2 in a tight rubber.

Though the Assam pair pulled one back when they took the doubles 3-2, it was Abhinand’s early onslaught that might have weighed their opponents down in the end when Priyanuj played the fourth rubber. Nevertheless, the boy would have picked some lessons on how to be calm in tight situations, taking a leaf out of Abhinand’s book along the way.

Maharashtra, the title winners in 2019, and West Bengal had to satisfy with the bronze medals, after wonderfully acquitting themselves in the Nationals.

Rishaan claims U-11 title 

Rishaan Chattopadhyay of West Bengal played a shade better than Arwindh Sajyey of Tamil Nadu to claim the Youth Boys Under-11 trophy when he won 3-2 in a gripping final.

In the only final to figure on the penultimate day of the championships, there was hardly anything to separate the two players, who deservingly made it to the gold medal round. The Tamil Nadu boy, leading 2-1, had it going on his side when he comfortably led in the fourth game. But the rushing adrenalin failed to make him wiser when he made a couple of unforced errors to give the negative points to Rishaan.

Taking the cue from there, Rishaan blasted away to reach 10-8 but failed to hold on to the advantage, allowing Arwindh to deuce. A rash shot by the TN boy and an unnecessary push at the nets gave the championship points to Rishaan, who went down on his knees to celebrate.

Arwindh was understandably disappointed at his loss, but he fought well to give the audience a cause for enjoyment as the Under-13, Under-15 singles, and the two doubles finals will be played tomorrow.

Results:

Youth Boys Under-15 Team: Final: Tamil Nadu bt Assam 3-1 (P.B. Abhinand bt Divyaj Rajkhowa Roy 11-7, 11-8, 11-9, Umesh Kumar bt Priyanuj Bhattacharyya 7-11, 12-10, 10-12, 12-10, 11-6, Abhinand/Umesh lost to Divyaj/Priyanuj 12-10, 11-13, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, P.B. Abhinand bt Priyanuj Bhattacharyya 5-11, 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10).

Youth Boys Under-11 Singles: FinalRishan Chattopadhyay (WB) bt J.N.Arwindh Sanjey (TN) 11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-6.

Semi-finals: J.N.Arwindh Sanjey bt Himon Kumar Mondal (WB) 11-8, 11-7, 12-10; Rishan Chattopadhyay bt Rithwik Senthilkumaar (TN) 12-14, 12-10, 10-12, 11-1, 11-9.

Read also: Assam face TN in Youth Boys U-15 final at UTT 84th Inter-State Sub-Junior and Cadet Championships 

 

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