Team Herald
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NAVELIM: Ankur Bhattacharjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee won the singles gold medals in the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships held at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium, Navelim, recently.
In the men’s singles, Ankur (PSPB) outplayed Ronit Bhanja (RSPB) 11-7, 11-5, 12-10, 13-11, while in the women’s singles Sutirtha (RSPB) beat Yashaswini Ghorpade (PSPB) 11-7, 5-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3.
The men’s singles final unfolded with surprising calm, largely due to the early exits of top contenders. Young Ankur, who seized the opportunity, stepped into the spotlight with poise and determination.
He delivered a masterful performance, decisively overcoming fellow rising star Ronit. This victory represents a significant milestone in Ankur’s burgeoning career, highlighting his immense potential to leave a lasting mark on the table tennis world.
On the women’s side, anticipation was ripe as young Yashaswini Ghorpade aimed for her second title after her recent triumph in Kangra. However, the ever-resilient Sutirtha, rejuvenated by her recent bronze-medal success in women’s doubles at the Asian Championships, stepped on the pedal to reclaim her glory.
With the blend of experience and tenacity, Sutirtha overcame Yashaswini 4-2, securing a long-awaited title and reminding everyone of her formidable presence in the sport. Earlier results: Men’s singles semi-finals: Ronit Bhanja bt Anirban Ghosh (RSPB) 10-12, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-3; Ankur Bhattacharjee bt Yashansh Malik (Delhi) 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7. Women’s singles semi-finals: Yashaswini Ghorpade bt Jennifer Varghese (Maharashtra) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8; Sutirtha Mukherjee bt Taneesha Kotecha (Maharashtra) 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 11-2.