Top-seed Anthony Amalraj defeated sixth seed Sanil Shetty 4-2 to win the men's singles title while No. 3 seed Madhurika Patkar beat fourth-seed Pooja Sahasrabuddhe 4-2 to win the women's singles crown in the National Ranking (North Zone) Table Tennis Championships here today.
Their title-winning efforts fetched them Rs. 66,000 and Rs. 55,000, respectively.
Amalraj, who had won two zonal titles last year, began well and kept himself in the hunt throughout, particularly after the semifinal win over longtime friend and Chennai mate G. Sathiyan 4-3. As compared to the earlier outing, the final against southpaw Sanil Shetty was rather easy despite the two going at a good pace.
Results:
Men's Singles: Final: A. Amalraj (PSPB) bt Sanil Shetty (PSPB) 4-1 (5-11, 11-8, 11-8, 13-11, 11-2); Semifinals: A. Amalraj bt G. Sathiyan (PSPB) 4-3 (12-10, 9 -11, 3-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6), Sanil Shetty bt Harmeet Desai (PSPB) 4-2 (11-6, 13-11, 5-11, 13-11, 5-11, 15-13).
Women's Singles: Final: Madhurika Patkar (PSPB) bt Pooja Sahasrabuddhe (PSPB) 4-2 (12-10, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9, 13-15, 11-8); Semifinals: Pooja Sahasrabuddhe bt Manika Batra (PSPB) 4-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4), Madhurika Patkar bt Shruti Amrute (Mah-B) 4-2 (14-12, 11-8, 4-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5).
Youth Boys: Final: Manav Thakkar (PSPBA) bt Arjun Ghosh (WB) 4-1 (11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7).
Youth Girls: Final: Archana G. Kamath (AAI) bt Sreeja Akula (AAI) 4-1 (11-8, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-1).
