Devesh Karia, Mouma Das win National Ranking TT titles

Gujarat's Devesh Karia and PSPB's Mouma Das emerged the men and women's singles champions at the National Ranking (Central Zone) Table Tennis Championships which concluded at the Abhay Prashal Stadium here today.
Karia, who won his maiden senior title, defeated PSPB's G Sathiyan 4-3 in what was a do-or-die final for the contestants.
The pressure was on both and despite leading comfortably at 3-1, Karia let Sathiyan off the hook and allowed him to level the match. However, in the decider, Sathiyan just about managed to save a match point at 9-11, but in Sathiyan's second serve, Karia got a good top ball which he killed with a forceful forehand to throw his arms up in elation.

Karia's effort fetched him Rs. 66,000 while Sathiyan, who has never won the men's singles title, had to be contended with half the prize purse.
Veteran Mouma Das defeated Pooja Sahasrabudhe for the women's title. Running a fine form and carrying a lot of confidence with her, the PSPB's veteran at 31, played on Pooja Sahasrabudhe's patience. On the other hand, a normally attacking Pooja was found wanting, at least in the decider once the two took the final the full distance. The title win was worth Rs. 55,000, the runner-up getting half the amount in reward.
Results: Men Singles: Final: Devesh Karia (Guj) bt G. Sathiyan (PSPB) 4-3 (11-4, 5-11, 11-2, 11-9, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9); Semifinals: G. Sathiyan bt Subhajit Saha (PSPB) 4-2 (11-9, 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 4-11, 15-13), Devesh Karia (Guj) bt Sanil Shetty (PSPB) 4-3 (11-9, 10-12, 7-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8).

Women's Singles: Final: Mouma Das (PSPB) bt Pooja Sahasrabudhe (PSPB) 4-3 (4-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5); Semifinals: Mouma Das (PSPB) bt Ankita Das (PSPB) 4-3 (4-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5), Pooja Sahasrabudhe (PSPB) bt Suthirtha Mukherjee (PSPB) 4-3 (11-8, 8-11, 6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 13-11).
Youth Boys Singles: Final: Abhishek Yadav (PSPB) bt Sudhanshu Grover (PSPBA) 4-2 (11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9); Youth Girls Singles: Final: Mallika Bhandarkar (AI) bt Manika Batra (PSPB) 4-0 (11-9, 15-13, 11-5, 11-8).