Team Herald
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NAVELIM: Ankur Bhattacharjee, after triumph in the men’s singles, added another gold to his collection, dominating Punit Biswas of West Bengal in the U-19 Boys’ singles at the UTT National Ranking Championships held at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium, here, recently.
Ankur’s impressive 4-0 victory showcased his prowess, leaving no room for doubt about his superiority.
His performance was nothing short of a master class. With his backhand flips and forehand scorchers, Ankur overwhelmed his opponent, who struggled to keep pace throughout the match. Punit found himself on the back foot, conceding seven straight points in the fourth game before finally finding his rhythm to pick a few, but it was too late. Ankur’s relentless momentum proved insurmountable. Making a mockery of the showdown, he won the contest with ease.
Meanwhile, Pritha Vartikar redeemed her early exit from the women’s singles by clinching the girls title with a commanding 4-0 win over fellow Maharashtra player Kavya Bhatt. Pritha started strong, but Kavya showed moments of brilliance, briefly elevating the intensity in the second and third games. However, she faltered at crucial moments, failing to convert five game points in the third game, all of which Pritha expertly saved. With unwavering focus, Pritha ultimately seized the point to secure a 3-0 lead, and by the fourth game, she was firmly in control, sealing her victory with confidence.
Earlier in the semi-finals, Ankur stood the test when he faced Priyanuj Bhattacharyya from Assam, who led 2-1 before Ankur came back to win narrowly in the fifth game. Punit had an easier time against Sharveya Samant from Maharashtra, winning straight sets despite a brief challenge at deuce. Pritha, a strong competitor from Maharashtra, dominated Jennifer in the semifinals, winning 3-0. Kavya Bhatt faced a tough challenge from Karnataka's Vanshika Deshna but edged her out in the final game of their semi-final.
Results: Men’s singles (final): Ankur Bhattacharjee (PSPB) bt Punit Biswas (West Bengal) 11-5, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4. Semi-finals: Ankur bt Priyanuj Bhattacharyya (Assam) 11-8, 7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9; Punit bt Sharveya Samant (Mah) 11-8, 11-4, 12-10.
Women’s singles (final): PrithaVartikar (Mah) bt Kavya Bhatt (Maharashtra) 11-8, 13-11, 17-15, 11-8. Semi-finals: Pritha bt Jennifer Varghese (Maharashtra) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5; Kavya bt Vanshika Deshna (Karnataka) 11-5, 8-11, 14-12, 9-11, 11-4.