Panchkula: The atmosphere at the Tau Devi Lal Indoor Multipurpose Hall was electric today as 26 talented paddlers from the Under-11 Girls’ category and 38 from the Under-11 Boys’ category secured their spots in the qualification round of the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships. These young athletes from across the country displayed skill, grit, and determination, making it a day to remember for the sport’s future stars.
The qualification process saw fierce competition, with players battling not only their opponents but also the intense pressure of a single-elimination format. As the qualification rounds wrapped up, the stage was set for the main draw, with the girls’ draw featuring 32 players and the boys’ draw expanding to 64.
Among the standout performances of the day was Inaya from Uttar Pradesh, who faced an acid test in her third-round match against Adhira Chetan from Telangana. It could have gone either way after a dramatic start. Inaya lost the opening game by a narrow margin, but the young paddler quickly regrouped, winning the second in an extended game to level the score. However, it was the third game where Inaya faltered, allowing Adhira to bounce back and level the match at 2-2. The fifth and final game was a true spectacle with everything on the line. Inaya regained her composure and displayed remarkable focus, dominating the game to seal the win 9-11, 12-10, 11-6, 3-11, 11-8, and secure a spot in the main draw.
In another close encounter, Sachi Dessai from Goa was caught in a tense battle with Avni Gupta from Chandigarh. After dropping the first and third games, Sachi staged a brave comeback to win the second and fourth games in an extended fashion, eventually securing a hard-fought victory 5-11, 11-7, 7-11, 15-13, 12-10. However, despite her valiant effort, neither Sachi nor Avni progressed further.
Sakshya Santosh of Karnataka was another player who caught the eye today with her remarkable resilience in the crucial third-round match against Avni Janghu from Haryana. They were in a must-win situation, and the match lived up to its high-stakes billing. Avni started strong, winning the first game in a thrilling, extended battle. However, her momentum faltered, allowing Sakshya to equalise and take a 2-1 lead. Despite Avni’s best efforts to recover, the momentum remained with Sakshya, who comfortably won the next two games to seal the win 10-12, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6 and claim her place in the main draw.
While the Under-11 boys and girls fought for their places, the Under-13 events also kicked off today, with two rounds of matches providing a glimpse of the exciting action to come.
