Chandigarh University (Mohali) scored a thrilling 3-2 victory over Panjab University (Chandigarh) to win the title at the All India Inter University Inter Zonal Table Tennis Women’s Tournament at Vignana Jyothi Institute of Arts & Science in Bachupally, Hyderabad, on Monday night.
In what was a keenly contested final, paddlers from both teams dished out an exhilarating performance which kept the spectators on their toes. Pelf began the proceedings for Panjab University against Riddima Kapoor of Chandigarh University. Pelf went down fight in the first game at 11-13 but she pulled up her socks in time. After that setback, Pelf didn’t give Riddima a chance to come back into the game. She took the next three games at 11-4, 11-8 and 11-8 to put her side 1-0 up.
Swetha then made it 2-0 for Panjab as she defeated Hardee Patel. The first game was a closely fought affair with Swetha prevailing at 14-12. She took the next one at 11-9 but Hardee made a comeback of sorts in the third game. She won it after a grim battle at 18-16 to take the game further. However, Swetha was in mood to let matters stretch further as she won the fourth game 11-1 and gave Panjab the upperhand.
Saanvi then started Chandigarh’s revival as he toyed with Shravani. The Chandigarh paddler won the tie quite comfortabley at 11-9, 11-3 and 11-5 to bridge the gap 1-2. Hardee then produced a masterclass as she defeated Pelf in a game which went to its length. In a tie which went see-saw, Hardee won the first one at 11-9 but then lost the next two games at 3-11 and 10-11. An upbeat Pelf looked to close out the game and the match, but Hardee upped the ante as she took the next two games at 11-6, 11-4 to take the tie into the decider.
In the decider, Riddima Kapoor got the better of Swetha in yet another thrilling encounter. Riddima won the first game 11-9 but fell behind in the second one. She lost it 9-11 but came back to take the third one at 11-7. Swetha came back again into contention and took the fourth game 11-4 but Riddima did not let her side down. She won the final game 11-5 to seal the issue in favour of Chandigarh University.
G Naresh Reddy, Registrar, Osmania University, presented the medals and trophies to the winners, runners-up and the third and fourth placed teams. AR Anuradha, CEO of Vignana Jyothi Institute of Arts and Science, Senior Prof N Kishan, Treasurer BOC IUT and Director, Academic Audit, OU, Senior Prof Rajesh Kumar, Dean Faculty of Education, OU, Senior Prof B Sunil Kumar, Principal, UCPE, OU, and Senior Prof K Deepla, organising secretary and IUT-BOC, OU graced the occasion.
Results (finals): Panjab University (Chandigarh) lost to Chandigarh University (Mohali) 2-3 (Pelf beat Riddima Kapoor 11-13, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8; Swetha beat Hardee Patel 14-12, 11-9, 16-18, 11-1; Shravani lost to Saanvi 9-11, 3-11, 5-11; Pelf lost to Hardee Patel 9-11, 11-3, 11-10, 6-11, 4-11; Swetha lost to Riddima Kapoor 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4, 5-11).
Third place: Lovely Professional University (Jalandhar) beat Veer Narmad South University (Surat) 3-1.
Semifinals: Panjab University (Chandigarh) beat Veer Narmad South University (Gujarat) 3-1 (Pelf lost to Siddhi Bulsara 7-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9; Swetha beat Aafien Murad 12-10, 11-6, 5-11, 11-5; Shravani beat Kavisha Parekh 11-7, 11-6, 11-7; Pelf beat Aafien Murad 10-12, 11-6, 11-3, 12-10). Chandigarh University (Mohali) beat Lovely Professional University (Jalandhar) 3-2 (Riddhima lost to Aarti 9-11, 9-11, 20-22; Hardee beat Disha 4-11, 11-1, 11-9, 11-6; Saanvi lost to Vartica 6-11, 7-11, 9-11; Hardee beat Aarti 13-11, 14-12, 11-7; Riddhima beat Disha 10-12, 11-13, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9).
