Team Herald
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NAVELIM: Ritvik Gupta from Jammu and Kashmir and Divyanshi Bhowmick of Maharashtra emerged champions in the U-15 categories at the UTT National Ranking Championships held at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium, here, recently.
In the final, Ritvik edged out Shouren Soman of Maharashtra with a nail-biting 3-2 victory. After taking an early lead, Ritvik faced intense pressure as Shouren rallied to win the third and fourth games. However, Ritvik displayed remarkable resilience, sealing the match with a strong finish.
Divyanshi's journey to victory was marked by consistency and skill. She faced her State-mate Riana Bhoota. After a previous near miss in the tournament, Divyanshi was determined to secure gold this time.
Although, Riana took the first game, Divyanshi quickly regrouped, making strategic adjustments that allowed her to dominate the rest of the match, winning 3-1. Her powerful gameplay and tactical prowess ensured Riana had no second opportunity for a comeback.
In the U-13 boys final, Prateek Tulsani of Maharashtra dominated Himon Mondal of West Bengal with a swift 3-0 victory, taking less than 20 minutes to secure the title.
Tanishka Kalbhairav of Karnataka bounced back from prior disappointments, defeating Aayushi Hazra of West Bengal in straight games for the U-13 girls crown. Despite a moment in the second game where Aayushi threatened Tanishka’s momentum, Tanishka steadied herself, to grab her first gold medal of the season.
The U-11 boys final was another thriller, with Ariv Dutta of the National Centre of Excellence narrowly defeating Gem Mahalanabish from West Bengal after a closely contested match. Meanwhile, Divija Paul from Assam overcame a shaky start to claim victory in the U-11 girls category, showcasing her skills to secure the title decisively.
Results: U-15 boys singles (final): Ritvik Gupta bt Shouren Soman 11-6, 11-5, 4-11, 11-6, 12-10.
In the U-15 girls singles (final): Divyanshi Bhowmick bt Riana Bhoota 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7.
In the U-13 boys singles (final): Prateek Tulsani bt Himon Mondal 11-7, 11-9, 11-7. U-13 girls singles (final): Tanishka Kalbhairav bt Aayushi Hazra 11-6, 11-9, 11-1.
In the U-11 boys singles (final): Ariv Dutta bt Gem Mahalanabish 11-5, 12-10, 5-11, 10-12, 12-10. In the U-11 girls singles (final): Divija Paul bt Aadya Baheti 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-2.