National Games 2025: West Bengal win double gold in Table Tennis team c'ships

West Bengal stamped its authority at the National Games, clinching a double gold in the team championships at the Parade Ground Indoor Hall on Monday.

After their women’s team dethroned Maharashtra with a commanding 3-1 victory, the Bengal men followed suit, dismantling their Maharashtra counterparts in a one-sided final.

Dominating win by West Bengal men

Maharashtra was expected to put up a fight, but the contest slipped away in the opening tie despite a five-game thriller.

Anirban Ghosh set the tone with a crucial win over Jash Modi, tilting the psychological edge in Bengal’s favour.

Akash Pal, relentless in attack, made quick work of Raegan Albuquerque, sealing a 3-0 win in a match filled with electrifying long rallies.

With Bengal in control, Sourav Saha, stepping in for Ronit Bhanja, faced left-hander Chinmaya Somaiya, who focused more on defence than offence.

Sourav loved and cashed in on it, wrapping up the tie decisively and securing Bengal’s triumph, making the Dehradun Games a lasting memory.

Battle of fine margins for West Bengal women

The women’s team final was a battle of fine margins, where Bengal’s experience ultimately triumphed over Maharashtra’s youthful energy.

Sutirtha nearly faltered due to her cautious approach but found her rhythm in the deciding game to shut out Swastika.

Diya Chitale’s commanding 3-0 victory over Ayhika immediately levelled the score, setting the stage for a crucial third match. Poymantee, despite conceding a game, held firm against the young and promising Taneesha.

In the fourth tie, Ayhika’s variation in pace and pimpled rubber disrupted Swastika’s rhythm, racing to a 2-0 lead.

Swastika clawed back a game, momentarily shifting momentum, but Ayhika’s resilience saw her storm ahead to match points.

Swastika briefly threatened after the deuce, even holding a game point, but Ayhika clinched the final two points to spark jubilant celebrations in the Bengal camp.

Final results of Table Tennis team championship:

Women’s Team final:

West Bengal bt Maharashtra 3-1

Sutirtha Mukherjee bt Swastika Ghosh 11-8, 6-11, 14-12, 2-11, 11-5

Ayhika Mukherjee lost to Diya Chitale 10-12, 6-11, 5-11

Poymantee Baisya bt Taneesha Kotecha 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6

Ayhika bt Swastika 11-8, 11-6, 13-11.

Men’s Team final:

West Bengal bt Maharashtra 3-0

Anirban Ghosh bt Jash Modi 11-7, 10-12, 5-11, 11-6, 11-4

Akash Pal bt Raegan Albuquerque 11-5, 11-8, 12-10

Sourav Saha bt Chinmaya Somaiya 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6.