Chandigarh: In an electrifying display of youthful brilliance, the 51st Institutional Table Tennis Championships, held at Panjab University’s Gymnasium Hall, witnessed the old guard being eclipsed by a new wave of talent. The Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) men and Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) women paddlers emerged as champions, claiming the glittering trophies in a dramatic shift of power that captivated the audience.
The women’s final saw the PSPB team dethrone the defending champions, Railways, with a 3-1 scoreline, while the PSPB men returned the favour against RSPB in an equally dominant 3-1 win. In a dramatic showdown, Akash Pal, a rising star, teamed up with Jeet Chandra and Ronit Bhanja to dismantle the experienced PSPB squad, leaving the likes of Harmeet Desai, Manav Thakkar, and G. Sathiyan in their wake.
Pal, a player who had steadily improved, shocked India’s formidable Manav Thakkar with his impeccable play, shattering the confidence of the PSPB team. Despite the best efforts of G. Sathiyan, who briefly brought hope by winning the third rubber, it was Jeet Chandra’s unrelenting precision and poise that sealed the fate of the match. His flawless performance in the fourth rubber, coupled with Manav’s growing frustration and errors, gave RSPB a resounding victory, claiming the top spot after last year’s bronze finish.
PSPB triumphed over Railways in the women’s final, combining youthful energy with experienced hands to claim the title. For the RSPB, retaining the title was always going to be a tough ask. Much of their hopes rested on the shoulders of their star player, Sutirtha Mukherjee. Known for her ability to rise to the occasion in crucial matches, Sutirtha was expected to lead her team with composure and skill. However, on this day, the defending champions were caught off guard. The ferocity of talents like Reeth Rishya and young Yashaswini Ghropade proved too much for Sutirtha, as she found herself unable to impose her usual dominance on the game.
The match began with Yashaswini Ghropade, who gave PSPB an early lead. She dominated her encounter with Anusha Kutumbale, racing to a 2-0 lead. Though Anusha mounted a fightback by winning the third game, Yashaswini remained calm, sealing the win in the fourth to put the PSPB squad ahead.
However, the turning point came in the second match, where Sutirtha Mukherjee was expected to level the score. However, Reetha delivered a stunning performance, overpowering Sutirtha with aggressive play. Reeth stormed to a 2-0 lead, and despite Sutirtha pulling one game back, her confidence faltered. Reeth kept up the pressure, sealing a hard-fought win and giving PSPB a 2-0 lead.
Railways tried to fight back with Moumita Dutta, who faced young Sayali Wani in a crucial match. Despite Sayali’s potential, Moumita’s experience shone through, as she won in straight games to keep Railways’ hopes alive.
With the team score at 2-1 in favour of PSPB, the pressure shifted to Sutirtha and Yashaswini in the deciding match. Sutirtha struggled to maintain her form, while Yashaswini played with calm determination. The match went to a fifth game, but Yashaswini held a crucial three-point lead after the changeover, which Sutirtha couldn’t overcome.
In the end, Yashaswini wrapped victory for PSPB, securing their 3-1 win and crowning them champions. The victory highlighted the rising stars in PSPB and marked a successful title run, with youthful brilliance and experience proving a winning combination.
Significantly, the winners were awarded a prize purse of Rs 2 lakh, marking the first time such an amount was given in an Institutional Championship, while the runners-up teams received half of that prize. The bronze medalists each took home Rs 50,000.
The finals not only showcased a changing of the guard but also highlighted the raw energy and promise of India’s next generation of table tennis stars.
Results (Team Championships):
Men: Final: RSPB bt PSPB 3-1 (Akash Pal bt Manav Thakkar 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7; Jeet Chandra bt Harmeet Desai 11-8, 11-5, 6-11, 12-10, 11-9; Ronit Bhanja lost to G. Sathiyan 8-11, 10-12, 7-11, Jeet bt Manav 11-9, 10-12, 11-1, 11-9).
Women: Final: PSPB bt RSPB 3-1 (Yashaswini Ghorpade bt Anusha Kutumbale 11-9, 11-1, 10-12, 11-9; Reeth Rishya bt Sutirtha Mukherjee11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9; Sayali Wani lost to Moumita Dutta 3-11, 4-11, 6-11, Yashaswini bt Sutirtha 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7).
