Jalandhar: Delhi’s team, comprising Anand Prakash and B.N. Khazanchi made it a clean sweep, first beating Bengal 3-0 and following it up with a 3-2 triumph over strong Karnataka to claim the team gold in the men’s 80+ category in the UTT 29th National Masters Table Tennis Championships here today.
Incidentally, these were the first medals decided on the first day of the championships after the organisers decided to cancel the inauguration and march past ceremonies following the death of Arun Singh Barhat.
In their first round, Delhi A defeated Bengal A 3-1, the difference being Khazanchi. He first accounted for Ashoke Pyne of Bengal 11-4, 11-5, 11-1, but Kamlesh Gangopadhyay restored parity when he downed Anand Prakash 5-11, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-4. However, the two Delhi veterans combined well to go 2-1 up, winning the rubber 11-3, 11-7, 11-4 against the Bengal pair of Pyne and Gangopadhyay. In the fourth rubber, Khazanchi beat Gangopadhyay 11-7, 11-7, 11-4 to notch up their first win.
In the second match, Anand Prakash lost to Karnataka’s K.V. Krishnamurthy 11-7, 2-11, 12-10, 3-11, 11-13, but Khanzchi beat K. Satyanarayan 11-5, 11-7, 12-14, 4-11, 11-9. The fortunes swung in Delhi’s way when the pair found the rhythm against Krishnamurthy and Satyanarayan as the former won 3-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-2. Yet, Aanand Prakash lost tamely to Satyanarayan 4-11, 3-11,4-11 to give Karnataka a semblance of a chance. However, with Khazanchi in a roaring form, Delhi A had the last laugh as the Delhi paddler beat Krishnamurthy 11-5, 11-6,11-8 to claim the gold medal.
Karnataka finished with silver and Begal with bronze.
–TTFI
