Day One at State TT

Day of Upsets at State TT

The Adv Madav Rao memorial State Table Tennis tournament organized by Goa Table Tennis association was marked by some major upsets in various categories.  The competition got intense on day one and promises to see the momentum witnessed, all through.

Vaikik Shrivastava set up a final clash with Atharva Nadkarni in the finals of the mini cadet (boys) category.  Atharva beat Karl Gomendes 11-6, 11-5 and 11-8 while Nilay Kamat stretched Atharva to four sets eventually succumbing 12-10, 2-11, 6-11 and 6-11.  In the mini cadet (girls) final, the energetic Tanisi Kirtani will meet the promising Abigail Cunha.  Tanisi got the better of Deepali Desai 11-5, 11-6 and 11-2 while Abigail beat Pruta Parrikar 8-11, 11-3, 11-6 and 11-5.

The Cadet (girls) category witnessed the first upset of the day.  Fifth seed Anushka Hammanavar defeated fourth seeded Prutha Parrikar 11-9, 13-11, 7-11 and 12-10 in the quarterfinal.  The semi-final witnessed yet another upset when Abigail Cunha defeated Tanisi Kirtani 11-8, 11-9, 8-11 and 11-9 in a closely fought match. Abigail earned the right to meet Urmila Mense who got the better of Anushka Hammanavar 11-3, 11-4 and 11-4 in the other semi-final.  In other matches in this category: in the quarter final Abigail Cunha beat Lauren Sequeira 11-2, 11-5 and 11-1 while Tanisi Kirtani defeated Deepali Desai 11-2, 11-4 and 11-5.

The second upset of the day took place at the Cadet (boys) event when in the semi-final third seeded Varun Gangodkar got the better of second seeded Sidhanth Parekh 14-12, 11-6, 7-11 and 11-8.  Wesley Rosario set up a title clash with Varun when he defeated Rutuj Sonawane 11-6, 11-4 and 15-13.

Cadet (boys) quarterfinal results: Varun Gangodkar beat Vaidik Shrivastava 12-10, 9-11, 11-8 and 13-11; Rutuj Sonawane beat Sidhanth Sharma 11-9, 12-10 and 11-6; Sidhanth Parekh beat Sameer Malianto 11-4, 11-6 and 11-3 and Wesley Rosario beat Shaan Javeri 11-4, 11-3 and 11-5.

The third major upset of the day was in the quarterfinal of the Sub-Junior (girls) category when third seeded Arantxa Noronha went down to sixth seed Komal Salgaocar9-11, 4-11 and 9-11.  Urmila Mense and Tanisi Kirtani will meet in the finals of the Sub-Junior (girls) category.  Urmila went on to beat Abigail Cunha 11-3, 11-7, 8-11 and 11-4 while Tanisi convincingly beat Komal Salgaocar 11-7, 11-6 and 11-5.

Sub-Junior (girls) quarterfinal results: Urmila Mense beat Anushka Hammavar 11-4, 11-2 and 11-5 while Abigail Cunha beat Prutha Parrikar 11-8, 11-7, 11-13 and 11-7.  In the other match Pranali Sonawane was convincingly defeated by Tanisi Kirtani 6-11, 0-11 and 5-11.

The Sub-Junior (boys) final will be a showdown between Wesley Rosario and Yash Salgaocar.  While Sidhanth Parekh went down to Wesley 10-12, 11-9, 3-11 and 9-11; Pranav Naik lost to Yash 9-11, 4-11 and 7-11.

In the quarterfinal of the Sub-Junior (boys) category, Sidhanth Parekh beat Manguesh Sakordekar 11-4, 11-3 and 15-13 while Wesley Rosario beat Abner Cunha 10-12, 11-2, 11-9 and 11-4.  The other matches saw Yash Salgaocar beat Shubhanu Mangane 11-2, 11-5 and 11-7 while Pranav Naik beat Tejas Morajkar 9-11, 12-10, 11-7 and 11-6.

The Junior (girls) category also saw some display of excellent table tennis.  Gayatri Talavdekar and Eleanor DoRosario have set up a semi-final clash which promises to be passionate.  Laxmi Shetye lost to Gayatri Talavdekar 5-11, 2-11, 5-11 while Eleanor DoRosario beat Urmila Mense 11-8, 11-6, 11-9.

In the quarterfinal Gayatri Talavdekar beat Nisha Mahambrey 11-4, 11-8, 11-5; Laxmi  Shetye beat Roshni Gopani 11-8, 12-10, 11-4; Urmila Mense beat Kefira Rodgirues 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 and Eleanor DoRosario beat Tanisi Kirtani 11-6, 13-11, 11-5.

The ladies finals will also promises to be a tough battle for the coveted title.  The title clash is between Alisha Alfonso, who defeated Divya D’Mello 11-6, 11-4, 11-2, and Nyssa Alvares who beat Eleanor DoRosarion 11-2, 11-5, 11-9.  

The quarterfinal results: Alisha Afonso beat Kefira Rodrigues 11-3, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8; Divya D’Mello beat Urmila Mense 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8; Nyssa Alvares beat Tanisi Kirtani 11-5, 11-5, 11-5; Eleanor Rosario beat Gayatri Talavdekar 12-10, 9-11, 14-12, 10-12, 11-6.

The finals will surely be a treat to the eye. There will be some good table tennis played and the sporting spirit will reign high.