National Table Tennis Championships: PSPB men deny RSPB a double-team crown

The UTT 86th Senior National Inter-State Table Tennis Championships witnessed an extraordinary spectacle, with the men’s and women’s team finals delivering some of the most intense and thrilling encounters in several years.

In a grueling 220-minute showdown, the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) men’s team defended their title with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), retaining the prestigious Barna Bellak Cup. Meanwhile, the RSPB women’s team outlasted PSPB in another marathon clash, securing a 3-2 win to claim the women’s team championship at the Pandit Dindayal Upadhyay Indoor Stadium.

The men’s final began on a shaky note for PSPB, as RSPB’s Akash Pal tamed Ankur Bhattacharjee with relentless rallies and pinpoint precision, giving RSPB an early 1-0 lead. The pressure mounted when Anirban Ghosh overcame PSPB’s Harmeet Desai in a dramatic comeback from 0-2 down to claim the next three games, pushing RSPB to a 2-0 advantage.

Facing the possibility of losing their title after 26 years of dominance, PSPB’s Manav Thakkar stepped up against Jeet Chandra in the third tie. Despite trailing 1-2, Thakkar staged a remarkable turnaround, drawing inspiration from the team’s veteran, Sharath Kamal, who had joined just in time to bolster the squad.

Thakkar’s win reignited PSPB’s hopes. Ankur then equalized the score with a commanding 3-1 victory over Anirban, setting the stage for Harmeet Desai to deliver the final blow. With deft backhand flicks and tactical brilliance, Desai dismantled Akash Pal, completing PSPB’s comeback and securing their 27th title.

This victory also marked a fitting farewell for Sharath Kamal, who likely made his final appearance for PSPB. The team’s triumph served as a heartfelt tribute to the legend, underscoring their unyielding dominance and resilience under pressure.

RSPB’s defeat in the men’s final would have been a bittersweet moment for Bona Thomas, a stalwart who has served the Railways as both a player and the men’s team coach, and now as the manager. Set to retire this year, Thomas would have cherished a title victory as a farewell gift. While the men’s team fell short, the RSPB women delivered, securing the title they last won at the Hyderabad Nationals in 2019. Their spirited performance ensured that Thomas’ retirement year was marked by a moment of pride and celebration for the Railways.

The fate of the Railways women revolved around Sutirtha’s ability to inspire her squad with her commanding presence and undeniable skill. A two-time national champion and the most seasoned player on the roster, she took charge from the outset. With ruthless precision, Sutirtha overpowered PSPB’s lead player, Yashaswini Ghorpade, leaving no room for a response and setting an early tone of dominance.

However, PSPB found a lifeline through Reeth Rishya, who swiftly overcame Anusha Kutumbale, momentarily shaking the Railways’ momentum. Yet, the real drama unfolded when Kaushani Nath, a low-profile but trustworthy paddler for the Railways, stepped up. Initially, Kaushani struggled against PSPB’s young and dynamic Pritha Vartikar. Pritha narrowly clinched the opening game, gaining confidence to intensify the pressure in the next, leaving Kaushani reeling and handing PSPB a 2-0 advantage in the third rubber.

But Kaushani’s suppleness shone through. When the scales seemed tipped against her, she shifted gears, displaying tenacity and sharp focus. Winning a nail-biting third game and an equally close fourth at 12-10, Kaushani turned the tide. Her aggressive play left Pritha frustrated, and with renewed energy, she propelled Railways back into the lead. The jubilation, however, was short-lived as Yashaswini made quick work of Anusha in straight games, levelling the score and setting up a nail-biting final tie.

Sutirtha returned to the table in the decisive rubber, exuding determination and delivering a commanding performance against Reeth. With an aggressive strategy, she dominated the first two games, even though Reeth exploited occasional forehand errors to claw her way back and even out the contest. But when it mattered most, Sutirtha raised her game to another level. Her relentless attack left Reeth helpless, and with unshakable focus, she stormed through the final game, conceding only a single point. The electrifying finish, coming as it did after three hours, sealed the Railways’ victory and crushed PSPB’s aspirations of reclaiming the trophy.

Results (Team Finals):

Men: PSPB bt RSPB 3-2 (Ankur Bhattacharjee lost to Akash Pal 11-13, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 4-11, Harmeet Desai lost to Anirban Ghosh 11-4, 11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 9-11, Manav Thakkar bt Jeet Chandra 16-14, 11-7, 6-11, 10-12, 11-6, Ankur bt Anirban 11-7, 11-9, 9-11,11-9, Harmeet bt Akash 11-5, 11-4, 11-9).

Women: RSPB bt PSPB 3-2 (Sutirtha Mukherjee bt Yashaswini Ghorpade 11-6, 11-4, 11-3, Anusha Kutumbale lost to Reeth Rishya 7-11,7-11, 8-11, Kaushani Nath bt Pritha Vartikar 9-11, 6-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-6, Anusha lost to Yashaswini 10-12, 7-11, 8-11, Sutirtha bt Reeth Rishya 11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 4-11, 11-1).