Team Herald
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FATORDA: Top seeds Anaya Shukla and Shaurya Dessai cruised into the U-11 girls final of 37th V M Salgaocar All-Goa Major Ranking Table Tennis Tournament played at the Multipurpose Stadium, Fatorda, on Monday.
Organised by Cortalim Gymkhana under the aegis of Goa Table Tennis Association, the opening day witnessed a display of clinical skill and poise.
Anaya ousted Radha Desai 3-0 in the quarters and then blanked Sanaz Shaikh 3-0 in the semi-final. Shaurya defeated Megan Xavier and Tasha Mascarenhas by identical 3-0 margins to seal her spot in the final. Earlier in the quarter-finals, Sanaz edged past Tvisha Kotkar 3-2, while Tasha defeated Claire George 3-0.
The U-13 girls category saw upsets galore, with Sachi Dessai and Gianna George entering the finals. Samaira Verlekar stunned top seed Aarna Lotlikar 3-2 in the quarter-final but fell 0-3 to a rampaging Sachi Dessai in the semi-final.
Gianna won a tight 3-2 battle against Tisha Shaikh before toppling second seed Aayushi Amonkar 3-0 to book her place in the final.