Manush Shah takes Gujarat Under-17 Boys into finals

Gujarat’s Under-17 Boys produced another spectacular display to enter the finals of the 11SPORTS 63rd National School Games Table Tennis Championships here on Friday evening.

Chitrax Bhatt began the host state’s campaign on a victorious note, overcoming his first-game loss to beat Akash Pal 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8).

Manush Shah then overcame Tampe reverse single to down Akash Pal 3-0 (11-9, 11-2, 11-8) and set up the victory.

Gujarat’s Under-17 and Under-14 Girls, however, went down in the semifinals to settle for two bronze medals. The older girls lost to Delhi 1-3 even though Kausha Bhairapure gave them a winning start. She beat Ishita Gupta 3-1 (13-15, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6) to raise the hopes of the local fans.

Fizahfatema Kadri, however, lost both her singles matches, first to Vanshika Bhargava 1-3 (12-10, 12-14, 5-11, 5-11) and then to Ishita Gupta 2-3 (11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 7-11, 10-12) to set them back. Hetvi Rawal too lost her match to Amiesha Dhall 0-3 (3-11, 7-11, 4-11) to see Gujarat tumble out.

The Under-14 Girls too ran out of luck, stumbling against West Bengal 0-3. Namna Jayswal lost to Oishiki Joardar in a five-gamer after putting up a good fight. She won the first and third games but faltered in the other three to lose 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 5-11. Mili Tanna and Charmi Patel then bowed to the superior play of Sneha Bhowmik 0-3 (9-11, 5-11, 6-11) and Nilisma Sarkar 2-3 (7-11, 1-11, 11-6, 11-4, 8-11).

Earlier, the Under-14 Boys too yielded to a strong CBSE team in the quarterfinals. Smitraj Gohil lost to Sarth Mishra 0-3 (5-11, 8-11, 5-11) but Pratham Madlani and Harsh Patel brought them back with two victories against Shivam Chandra 3-2 (11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6) and Shiridhar 3-0 (13-11, 11-6, 14-12).

But Pratham Madlani then lost to Sartha Mishra 2-3 (5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 8-11) and Smitraj Gohil to Shivam Chandra 1-3 (4-11, 12-10, 5-11, 5-11) to douse Gujarat’s fight in this category.