PANAJI
In a thrilling day filled with unexpected results at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium in Navelim, the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships saw top-seeded players bow out early, leaving fans and players in suspense as the competition unfolded.
In the women's singles, tournament favourites Ayhika Mukherjee (top seed) and Poymantee Baishya (second seed) were eliminated, setting the stage for a dramatic contest. Further upsets followed with fifth-seeded Moumita Datta, ninth-seeded Suhana Saini, and 11th-seeded Swastika Ghosh also crashing out in the Round of 16. The series of surprises showcased the fierce competitiveness of the championship and the unpredictability of this high-stakes sport.
The men's singles draw was no different, with top-seeded Manav Thakkar, third-seeded G. Sathiyan, fourth-seeded Jeet Chandra, and fifth-seeded Anthony Amalraj all facing early exits. Manav Thakkar fought valiantly, coming back from 0-10 in the second game of his pre-quarterfinal against Tamil Nadu’s P.B. Abhinand but ultimately fell short, as Abhinand secured a hard-fought 3-11, 14-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7 win. Other top seeds like Sathiyan and SFR Snehit, who survived the Round of 64, could not advance further.
Despite the early exits of the top-seeded players, the day featured impressive comebacks and hard-fought victories. Kaushani Nath, who stunned Ayhika Mukherjee in an earlier round, continued her remarkable run by defeating Divya Deshpande in a thrilling encounter, winning 8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6.
Haryana’s Suhana Saini struggled against Maharashtra’s Jennifer Verghese, managing to win only one game before being eliminated. Meanwhile, Swastika Ghosh mounted a brave fight against sixth-seeded Sutirtha Mukherjee but ultimately lost in a closely contested decider.
In another dramatic match, 12th-seed Anusha Kutumbale staged a stunning comeback in an all-Railways pre-quarterfinal against Moumita Datta. After falling behind by two games, Anusha found her rhythm, winning three consecutive games to secure her place in the quarterfinals.
Adding to the day's excitement, the Goa Table Tennis Association hosted a special felicitation ceremony to honour India’s international players and Olympians, Harmeet Desai and Manav Thakkar, in recognition of their remarkable achievements. Looking ahead, Day 4 of the championship will showcase the semifinals and finals in the U19, Men’s, and Women’s events, with the prize distribution ceremony set for the evening session.
