NAGPUR: The women final between Srushti Haleangadi and former India paddler Mamta Parbhu followed the script similar to US Open 2019 final between Serena Williams and Bianca Andreescu. Both were battles between young and experience.
Much like Serena, 36-year-old Mamta has been stalwart in Mahrashtra and national table tennis circuit. A couple of years ago, she made a comeback after five years.
On Sunday evening, she played the final of fourth Maharashtra State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament final against the opponent who was half of her age, a similar battle between 37-year-old Serena and 19-year-old Bianca.
The match exactly went the US Open final way. Much like Bianca, Srushti was 3-0 up and looked like wrapping up the match in quick time. Mamta, however, used all her experience and made the lost contest interesting by winning two games, exactly the way Serena fought back after being trailed at 1-5. From championship point, Serena took the second set to 5-5 and kept the crowd going.
The Nagpur crowd too was behind the former India star, who was in great rhythm in the sixth game, which could have gone either way. At 10-9, Srushti took a time out to break Mamta’s rhythm and gather some composure. It turned out to be a masterstroke as she finished the game, winning the rally in style.
Srushti won the final 11-7, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9 to win her third state women title. Top seed Srushti lived up to her seeding and showed great footwork. He blocks and smashes were spot on as she moved well throughout the table. This after she got the better of third seed Disha Hulawle 11-2, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-3 in the youth girls final.
In all the six games, Srushti had early lead and put pressure on Mamta but somehow she couldn’t maintain the lead. Every time, Srushti looked like walking away with the game, Mamta showed great resistance. However, it was points in crunch situations that put Srushti put ahead. She was hardly providing any room to Mamta.
The men’s final between Chinmaya Somaiya and Bhavesh Apte was fast and furious and enthralled the crowd. However, top seed Somaiya placed the ball better than Apte on more often not to win the title 9-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8. The southpaw played some remarkable smashes and top spins. Apte made several unforced error that cost him the match.
It was a great performance considering he had lost the youth boys final to Shubham Ambre not so long ago. Ambre won the final 11-4, 12-10, 5-11, 13-11, 13-11. While scoreline may suggest different picture, it was much closer than it looks. Somaiya lost crucial moments in the second, third and fifth game. However, he corrected those mistakes quickly and looked better in the men’s final.
Results (all finals):
YOUTH GIRLS: 8-Srushti Haleangadi (MSD) bt 3-Disha Hulawle (THN) 11-2, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-3
YOUTH BOYS: 2-Shubham Ambre (MCD) bt 1-Chinmaya Somaiya (MSD) 11-4, 12-10, 5-11, 13-11, 13-11
WOMEN: 1-Srushti Haleangadi (MSD) bt 2-Mamata Prabhu (MSD) 11-7, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9
MEN: 1-Chinmaya Somaiya (MSD) bt Bhavesh Apte (MSD) 9-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8.
Much like Serena, 36-year-old Mamta has been stalwart in Mahrashtra and national table tennis circuit. A couple of years ago, she made a comeback after five years.
On Sunday evening, she played the final of fourth Maharashtra State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament final against the opponent who was half of her age, a similar battle between 37-year-old Serena and 19-year-old Bianca.
The match exactly went the US Open final way. Much like Bianca, Srushti was 3-0 up and looked like wrapping up the match in quick time. Mamta, however, used all her experience and made the lost contest interesting by winning two games, exactly the way Serena fought back after being trailed at 1-5. From championship point, Serena took the second set to 5-5 and kept the crowd going.
The Nagpur crowd too was behind the former India star, who was in great rhythm in the sixth game, which could have gone either way. At 10-9, Srushti took a time out to break Mamta’s rhythm and gather some composure. It turned out to be a masterstroke as she finished the game, winning the rally in style.
Srushti won the final 11-7, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9 to win her third state women title. Top seed Srushti lived up to her seeding and showed great footwork. He blocks and smashes were spot on as she moved well throughout the table. This after she got the better of third seed Disha Hulawle 11-2, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-3 in the youth girls final.
In all the six games, Srushti had early lead and put pressure on Mamta but somehow she couldn’t maintain the lead. Every time, Srushti looked like walking away with the game, Mamta showed great resistance. However, it was points in crunch situations that put Srushti put ahead. She was hardly providing any room to Mamta.
The men’s final between Chinmaya Somaiya and Bhavesh Apte was fast and furious and enthralled the crowd. However, top seed Somaiya placed the ball better than Apte on more often not to win the title 9-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8. The southpaw played some remarkable smashes and top spins. Apte made several unforced error that cost him the match.
It was a great performance considering he had lost the youth boys final to Shubham Ambre not so long ago. Ambre won the final 11-4, 12-10, 5-11, 13-11, 13-11. While scoreline may suggest different picture, it was much closer than it looks. Somaiya lost crucial moments in the second, third and fifth game. However, he corrected those mistakes quickly and looked better in the men’s final.
Results (all finals):
YOUTH GIRLS: 8-Srushti Haleangadi (MSD) bt 3-Disha Hulawle (THN) 11-2, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-3
YOUTH BOYS: 2-Shubham Ambre (MCD) bt 1-Chinmaya Somaiya (MSD) 11-4, 12-10, 5-11, 13-11, 13-11
WOMEN: 1-Srushti Haleangadi (MSD) bt 2-Mamata Prabhu (MSD) 11-7, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9
MEN: 1-Chinmaya Somaiya (MSD) bt Bhavesh Apte (MSD) 9-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8.
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