Surat: Two rising stars from the Reserve Bank of India, Manush Shah and Diya Chitale, claimed their maiden national titles at the UTT 86th Senior National Table Tennis Championships. Competing at the Pandit Dindayal Upadhyay Indoor Stadium, they triumphed as the men’s and women’s champions, earning trophies and cash prizes of ₹3.2 lakh each. Both players showcased exceptional skill and determination in their respective finals, marking a significant milestone in their careers.
Manush Shah, hailing from Vadodara, asserted his dominance in the men’s final, defeating Delhi’s Payas Jain 4-1 in a relatively subdued contest. Although Payas initially gained the upper hand by clinching the first deuce game, Manush quickly turned the tide. He secured the next two games with ease to take a 2-1 lead. In a critical fourth game, Payas briefly recovered to lead 8-4, but a resilient Manush staged a dramatic comeback, seizing victory on his second game point. With a commanding 3-1 advantage, Manush closed out the match in style, thrilling the local crowd as his talent and composure shone brightly.
In the women’s final, Diya Chitale faced a much tougher challenge against her RBI teammate, Sreeja Akula. Diya showcased remarkable grit and focus, outlasting Sreeja in a thrilling contest to deny her a third national crown. The victory underscored Diya’s growth as a player, as she navigated a high-pressure final to emerge victorious. For both Manush and Diya, their victories not only marked career-defining moments but also established them as promising talents in Indian table tennis.
Diya Chitale emerged victorious in a thrilling women’s final, showcasing nerves of steel and impeccable skill. The match saw three intense deuce games, with Diya winning two of them at crucial junctures. In one instance, she held two game points, and in the other, she staged a remarkable comeback from behind. These pivotal wins leveled the contest at 2-2, placing both RBI women on an equal footing.
With momentum on her side, Diya’s confidence soared, and she began unleashing a barrage of attacking shots, forcing Sreeja Akula into committing uncharacteristic errors. Capitalizing on the shift, Diya took a 3-2 lead. However, the sixth game was a nail-biter. Despite Diya holding a slim advantage, Sreeja’s grit and tactical brilliance shone through as she clawed her way back to take the game, tying the score at 3-3 and setting up a thrilling decider.
The decisive seventh game began with Diya seizing the initiative, earning the first two points with audacious forehand placements that left Sreeja flustered. At the changeover, Diya held a narrow 5-3 lead, but Sreeja quickly levelled at 6-6 and even edged ahead at 7-6. The tide seemed to turn in Sreeja’s way as her calculated play momentarily subdued Diya’s free-flowing strokes. However, a costly service error from Sreeja handed Diya a critical two-point cushion.
Sreeja fought valiantly to regain control, but Diya held her nerve. At 10-9, Diya’s bold and precise return left Sreeja scrambling, her forehand sailing out of bounds. With that, Diya threw her arms skyward in sheer elation, celebrating her maiden title in a hard-fought and unforgettable final.
Before the finals even began, the semifinals set the stage for an electrifying day of table tennis. While the results on paper may suggest lopsided victories, the matches were anything but. Each match showcased grit, skill, and mental toughness, as players battled for a coveted spot in the finals.
In the women’s semifinals, top-seed Sreeja Akula and sixth-seed Diya Chitale set up an all-RBI final with standout performances. Diya’s 4-0 win over West Bengal’s Syndrela Das was a tactical masterclass. It was Syndrela’s aggressive forehand versus Diya’s composed, controlled play, especially after falling 0-2 behind. Diya dictated the pace and secured a well-earned victory.
Meanwhile, Sreeja overcame PSPB’s Yashaswini Ghorphade 4-1 in a mentally demanding clash. Both players relied on pimpled rubbers, but Yashaswini’s forehand errors proved costly. Sreeja cashed in on key moments to edge her opponent and claim her spot in the final.
In the men’s section, eighth-seed Payas Jain dominated unseeded Divyansh Srivastava with a 4-0 win. However, Payas’s superior all-round game, particularly his reliable backhand, proved the difference. Divyansh relied heavily on his forehand to attack, but his inconsistent blocking and faulty returns gifted crucial points to Payas. The Delhi paddler seized the opportunity to maintain control, securing his first-ever final appearance with a composed 4-0 victory.
The other semifinal saw a captivating clash between Manush Shah and the in-form Ankur Bhattacharjee. Manush, a left-hander, delivered one of his most consistent performances in recent years, showcasing remarkable precision in his blocks and returns. His explosive forehand and backhand shots unsettled Ankur and drew applause from the crowd. Despite Ankur’s efforts to fight back, Manush’s mental resolve and strategic gameplay created cracks in his opponent’s approach. Ankur’s errors had mounted by the fourth game, and his fatigue was evident. At 10-9, the Baroda paddler closed out the match with a clinical focus, earning his maiden final berth in a career-defining moment.
Rlys pair wins XD gold
Finally, Poymantee Baisya redeemed herself by partnering with Akash Pal to secure the gold medal in Mixed Doubles. The duo delivered a commanding performance, defeating Maharashtra’s Jash Modi and Taneesha Kotecha in under 25 minutes, showcasing their dominance throughout the match.
Results:
Men’s Singles: Manush Shah (RBI) bt Payas Jain (Del) 10-12, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8.
Semifinals: Payas bt Divyan Srivastava (UP) 11-9, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7; Manush bt Ankur Bhattacharjee (PSPB) 13-11, 11-4, 11-9, 12-10.
Women’s Singles: Diya Chitale (RBI) bt Sreeja Akula (RBI) 10-12, 8-11, 13-11, 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9.
Semifinals: Sreeja bt Yashashwini Ghorpade (PSPB) 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9; Diya bt Syndrela Das (WB) 11-8, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6.
Mixed Doubles: Final: Akash Pal/Poymantee Baisya (RSPB) bt Jash Modi/Taneesha Kotecha (Mah) 11-5, 11-6, 11-4.
