Telangana women, riding on the heroics of Bandaru Kiranmai, delivered a stunning late surge to deny hosts Maharashtra a gold medal, clinching a dramatic 3–2 victory in the 40+ team final of the 32nd National Masters Table Tennis Championships at the Balewadi Indoor Stadium in Pune on Friday.
In a contest where fortunes fluctuated with gripping intensity, Telangana raced to a 2–0 lead before Maharashtra clawed back to level the tie, setting up a winner-takes-all decider.
At the heart of Telangana’s triumph was Bandaru Kiranmai, whose composure under pressure proved decisive. Already tested in a gruelling opening rubber against Mayuri Dixit, where she edged through in five games, Kiranmai returned for the reverse singles with everything on the line.
Kiranmai showcased resilience
Facing Snehal Bhole Gulabrao in the decider, she once again showcased remarkable resilience, battling through another five-game thriller to seal the title. Her twin victories, both hard-fought 3–2 wins, tilted the balance in Telangana’s favour and underscored her pivotal role in the final.
The match itself was a fitting showpiece, marked by momentum swings and rallies. Sonali Asrani gave Telangana the early edge with a straight-game win over Snehal, before Kiranmai doubled the lead. Maharashtra responded through Winnie Carole and Mayuri Dixit, who brought the hosts back into contention and ignited comeback hopes.
But just as the pressure peaked, Telangana held their nerve to close out the contest, though the final moments carried an unexpected sense of inevitability. Racing to a commanding 7–2 lead in the decider, Kiranmai left little room for doubeat as her opponent’s shoulders visibly dropped, and the outcome was all but sealed in an anti-climactic finish to an otherwise gripping final.
Telangana overcome Chhattisgarh in semis
Earlier in the semifinals, Maharashtra survived a stern challenge from IA&AD, scraping through 3–2, while Telangana overcame Chhattisgarh 3–1 to book their place in the final.
In the other veteran categories, the competitions followed a round-robin league format, where consistency proved key and the number of wins determined standings. Maharashtra women asserted their dominance in the 45+ section, finishing ahead of Karnataka and Gujarat. Gujarat emerged on top in the 50+ category, with Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh following, while hosts Maharashtra and Delhi rounded out the standings. In the 55+ event, Maharashtra once again led the field, with Gujarat, IA&AD, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu completing the order.
The men’s team events will on Friday conclude with the semifinals, and the finals will be played on Saturday. However, the women have already begun their singles group matches, with the doubles to follow across sections.
Results: (Team): Women 40+: Final: Telangana beat Maharashtra 3-2 (Sonali Asrani beat Snehal Bhole 11-8, 12-10, 11-6, Bandaru Kiranmai beat Mayuri Dixit 10-12, 11-7, 11-13, 11-8, 11-6, Nisha Inani lost to Winne Carole 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, Sonal lost to Mayuri 13-11, 9-11, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, Bandaru beat Snehal 4-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9, 11-2). Semifinals: Maharashtra beat IA&AD 3-2 (Snehal beat Dipasree Banerjee 11-7, 11-13, 11-7, 11-3, Mayuri lost to Shobhana Solanki 1-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 2-11, Winnie beat Gurvinder Kaur 12-10, 11-4, 11-8, Snehal lost to Shobhana 4-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, Mayuri beat Dipasree 13-11, 6-11, 16-14, 11-8); Telangana beat Chhattisgarh 3-1 (Bandaru lost to Divya Amade 10-12, 15-17, 6-11, Sonal beat Pramila Dewangan 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, Nisha beat Monika Diwan 11-5, 11-7, 11-3, Sonal beat Divya 11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7).
Women 45+: Round-Robin Positions: Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat.
Women 50+: Round-Robin Positions: Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Delhi.
Women 55+: Round-Robin Positions: Maharashtra, Gujarat, IA&AD, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu.
