SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2024
Team Herald
RAIA: In a thrilling conclusion to the Panjim Gymkhana Angley’s Table Tennis Team Championship held at Panjim Gymkhana, on Sunday, the Goa Table Tennis Training Centre’s Gladiators triumphed over Shantadurga Knight Riders with a nail-biting 8-6 victory in the final. This win marks a significant achievement for the GTTTC’s team as they lifted the prestigious championship trophy in their maiden appearance.
The final were a true spectacle of skill and determination, showcasing the best of table tennis talent where Goa’s brightest talents competed along with several top class outstation players. Team captain Wesley Do Rosario of the GTTTC Gladiators played a pivotal role, securing crucial wins in the men’s singles and contributing to the overall success of his team. Aaron Farias was also a standout performer for his team, decisively winning his junior boys singles match 3-0. Additionally, the veteran doubles team of Niraj Kannure and Shawn Soares displayed exceptional synergy and enthusiasm, defeating Ratnadeep Shivani and Satish Agrahar 2-0, which significantly contributed to the Gladiators’ victory.
The semi-finals were equally gripping, with both matches providing intense thrill. Shantadurga Knight Riders had a hard-fought victory over Hotel Virashree, thanks in large part to the performances of former junior national winner Munmun Kundu and Rudra Narayan Ghosh, an India ranked youth player. Team captain Shantesh Mhapsekar made decisive contributions to his team’s win in the semi-finals and earlier in the quarters. In the other semi-finals, the GTTTC Gladiators overcame BPS Star Contender with notable contributions from Wesley Do Rosario and Aaron Farias, setting the stage for the exciting final. Pradnya Caro and Atharv Dhulapkar had good outings for the BPS team.
Earlier, in the quarter-finals, Hotel Virashree dominated Mapusa Smashers with an 8-2 victory, while Shantadurga Knight Riders overcame BPS Mavericks 8-4. The BPS star contender edged out Peddem Champs in a close 8-7 match, and the GTTTC Gladiators secured their place in the semi-finals by defeating Super Smashers 8-4. 20 teams participated in the team championship in all, across five groups.
The Angley’s team championship event, Goa’s oldest team championship event running since 1974, was organised by the Panjim Gymkhana in collaboration with the Goa Table Tennis Association. The format for this year's edition was inspired by the elite Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) championship of the TTFI, generating a lot of excitement.
