There was no change in the highly predictable script of the Inter-Institutional table tennis championship with Petroleum completing the ritual of keeping the team titles.
For the 13th straight year, Petroleum men won without being tested. In the final, host Railways proved a friendly rival and Petroleum raced away to a 3-0 verdict.
Unlike the ladies’ team final where Petroleum battled all the way to down a spirited Reserve Bank of India 3-2, the men’s team final saw the champion side play like one.
In the women’s final, first-time finalist RBI performed creditably with its spearhead Krittwika Roy Sinha winning against the former National champion Ankita Das and the reigning National champion Mouma Das.
Even Shweta Parte, whose inexperience showed up on the big points in the decider against Mouma in the second singles, played her heart out. Over all, Petroleum just about managed to win and extended its reign on the title for the 12th year in succession.
All champion team Petroleum fielded an all-National champion team but RBI, in particular Krittwika, was not intimidated. She packed off a brittle Ankita in quick time to put RBI ahead.
Mouma, looking far from her attacking best, needed the deciding set to prevail over Shweta. Shamini, stretched by Shruti Talnikar in the second set, provided the much-needed cushion for Petroleum by winning the third singles.
Mouma’s unimpressive run continued as Krittwika attacked more and kept the diminutive player under constant pressure.
Suspect defence
Mouma’s defence looked a suspect and her receiving of serves left much to be desired. Though Mouma saved three match-points in the fourth set, Krittwika eventually made it by foxing her rival with a short, loose serve.
In the deciding singles, Ankita made amends for her loss in the opening outing and nailed Shweta in straight sets.
The men’s final proved one-sided with National champion Soumyajit Ghosh setting the pace. Defending champion G. Sathiyan continued the good work and Harmeet Desai finished the job.
The trio, that brought a historic bronze medal from the World junior championship in 2011, now forms Petroleum’s best combination in the absence of Sharath Kamal.
On this day, Ghosh, Sathiyan and Desai were stretched just once in each set before winning as expected.
The results:
Team championship finals:
Men: Petroleum beat Railways 3-0 (Soumyajit Ghosh bt Ravindra Kotian 11-4, 13-11, 11-4; G. Sathiyan bt Noel Pinto 11-7, 13-11, 12-10; Harmeet Desai bt Anirban Nandi 11-5, 11-8, 12-10).
Women: Petroleum beat Reserve Bank of India 3-2 (Ankita Das lost to Krittwika Roy Sinha 8-11, 7-11, 7-11; Mouma Das bt Shweta Parte 11-8, 5-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-7; K. Shamini bt Shruti Talnikar 11-7, 12-10, 11-5; Mouma lost to Krittwika 4-11, 8-11, 12-10, 13-15; Ankita bt Shweta 11-8, 11-7, 11-7).
