Manav Thakkar reinforced the growing belief of being the next big thing in Indian table tennis. The rising star, a member of country’s squad for the upcoming Asian Games, won the men and youth titles in the National ranking table tennis championship here.
After beating Ronit Bhanja in the youth boys final, Manav ended the dream run of a fighting S. Snehit of Telangana 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4 to defend the men’s singles title, worth ₹70,000. Snehit received ₹35,000.
Earlier, Manika Batra crossed the first major hurdle on the domestic circuit this season when she saved three match-points to stop Krittwika Sinha Roy in a seven-set women’s final.
After the players won alternate sets leading to an enthralling decider, the Commonwealth Games champion was down 9-10, 10-11, 11-12 but fought back gamely to convert her second match-point for a 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 8-11, 14-12 triumph. Manika collected ₹60,000 and Krittwika, ₹30,000.
The youth girls’ title went to Akula Sreeja who had to bring out her best to beat a determined S. Selena Deepthi in six close sets.
The results:
Men (final): Manav Thakkar (PSPB) bt S. Snehit (Tel) 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4; Semifinals: Snehit bt Arjun Ghosh (WB) 6-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8; Thakkar bt Sanil Shetty (PSPB) 11-4, 13-15, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9.
Women (final): Manika Batra (PSPB) bt Krittwika Sinha Roy (WB) 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 8-11, 14-12; Semifinals: Krittwika bt Archana Kamath (PSPB) 11-6, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 14-12; Manika bt Madhurika Patkar (PSPB) 11-7, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9.
Youth, boys (final): Manav Thakkar (PSPB) bt Ronit Bhanja (WB) 11-7, 11-3, 11-3, 9-11, 11-6; Semifinals: Thakkar bt Arniban Ghosh (Rly) 4-11, 11-7, 11-0, 11-7, 11-8; Bhanja bt Jeet Chandra (Har) 8-11, 12-10, 11-6, 1-11, 11-7, 11-7.
Girls (final): Akula Sreeja (RBI) bt S. Selena Deepthi (TN) 13-15, 11-5, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10; Semfinals: Selena bt Shruti Amrute (Mah-A) 11-7, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7; Sreeja bt Archana Kamath (PSPB) 4-11, 13-11, 13-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6.
