Pratha lives up to the challenge while Filzah scores a big win

Surat (Gujarat) [India], November 16: Ahmedabad’s young sensation Pratha Pawar lived up to the hype to win three titles while Surat’s Filzah Fatema Kadri recorded a monumental win to pocket the Women’s title at the Tapti Valley International School 4th Gujarat State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament 2021 that was organised by the Surat District Table Tennis Association under the aegis of Gujarat State Table Tennis Association at the Tapti Valley International School in Olpad, Surat.

Pratha came out with a stupendous performance to win the Junior Girls’ (U-17), Sub Junior Girls’ (U-15) and Cadet Girls’ (U-13) titles.

Twelve-year-old Pratha won her third under-17 title of the season when the second seed overcame talented local girl and fourth seed Mili Tanna of Surat 9-11, 15-13, 11-9, 5-11, 14-16, 11-8, 11-9 in a closely contested final.

Second seed Pratha’s maiden under-15 title of the season came when she edged out teammate and fourth seed Nidhi Prajapti 11-9, 12-10, 12-10, 11-4 in the final.

Meanwhile, Pratha, who was the top seed, maintained her dominance in the under-13 category with 11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 11-3 win over another teammate and second seed Hiya Singh.

The highlight of the night would be the Women’s final between two local players. While indomitable Frenaz Chipia, the top seed, was an overwhelming favourite, the familiar environment surely played its part as second seed Filzah raised her game to record a shocking 12-10, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 14-12 win for her second Women’s title of the season.

Top seed Filzah also continued her dominance in the under-19 category as she beat teammate and third seed Aafrien Murad 18-16, 12-10, 11-4, 11-9 to maintain her all-win record in the category this season.

Ahmedabad’s Chitrax Bhatt also picked two titles winning the Men’s as well as Junior Boys’ (U-19) titles.

Second seed Chitrax shrugged off his recent indifferent form in the Men’s category to beat teammate and fifth seed Dhairya Parmar 6-11, 11-5, 14-12, 11-6, 11-6 in the final.

Meanwhile, the top seed maintained his unbeaten run in the under-19 category with an 11-9, 13-15, 7-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6 win over seventh seed Shlok Bajaj of Surat.

Not to be disappointed, second seed Shlok maintained his recent surge in the under-17 category with a 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-3, 11-7 win over teammate and top seed Burhanuddin Malubhai.

Seventh seed Janmejay Patel of Aravalli also scripted a big upset when he came from behind to beat top seed Himansh Dahiya of Ahmedabad 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7 to win the Sub Junior Boys’ (U-15) title.

Top seed Arya Kataria of Ahmedabad broke local hearts when he beat second seed Vivaan Dave of Surat 11-8, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 for the Cadet Boys’ (U-13) crown.

Vivaan had something to cheer as the top seed won the Hopes Boys’ (U-11) title with an 11-4, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 win over second seed Parv Vyas of Ahmedabad.

Surat’s Krisha Patel won the Hopes Girls’ (U-11) title with a 12-10, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 win over third seed Charmy Trivedi of Bhavnagar.

“A big congratulations to Pratha for winning three titles. She has been an outstanding talent this season and the wins here shows that. Filzah also deserved the plaudits for winning the women’s title as Frenaz has been a formidable force and it is never easy to surpass her. Their performance bore the testament of GSTTA’s efforts to groom the youngsters with proper training and guidance,” GSTTA president Mr Vipul Mittra, IAS, said. “A heartiest congratulations to all the winners whose hard work bore desired results. But at the same time, there is no room for all others who missed out. I hope that the loss should serve as a stepping stone for more success in the future,” Mr Mittra added.

KEY RESULTS:

Men’s

F: 2-Chitrax Bhatt (AHD) def 5-Dhairya Parmar (AHD) 6-11, 11-5, 14-12, 11-6, 11-6

3/4: 1-Ishaan Hingorani (KCH) def Vidit Desai (BRD) 11-7, 11-5, 11-2

Women’s

F: 2-Filzah Fatema Kadri (SRT) def 1-Frenaz Chipia (SRT) 12-10, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 14-12

3/4: 4-Kausha Bhairapure (AHD) vs 6-Aafrein Murad (SRT) 19-17, 6-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8

Junior Boys’ (U-19):

F: 1-Chitrax Bhatt (AHD) def 7-Shlok Bajaj (SRT) 11-9, 13-15, 7-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6

3/4: 5-Arman Shaikh (ARV) def 3-Harshil Kothari (BVN) 11-9, 15-17, 12-10, 15-13

Junior Girls’ (U-19):

F: 1-Filzah Fatema Kadri (SRT) def 3-Aafrien Murad (SRT) 18-16, 12-10, 11-4, 11-9

3/4: 4-Kausha Bhairapure (AHD) def Pratha Pawar (AHD) 11-9, 11-4, 11-7

Junior Boys’ (U-17):

F: 2-Shlok Bajaj (SRT) def 1-Burhanuddin Malubhai (SRT) 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-3, 11-7

3/4: 3-Arman Shaikh (ARV) def 5-Harshvardhan Patel (ARV) 7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6

Junior Girls’ (U-17):

F: 2-Pratha Pawar (AHD) def 4-Mili Tanna (SRT) 9-11, 15-13, 11-9, 5-11, 14-16, 11-8, 11-9

3/4: 1-Nidhi Prajapati (AHD) def 3-Arnee Parmar (SRT) 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-6

Sub Junior Boys’ (U-15):

F: 7-Janmejay Patel (ARV) def 1-Himansh Dahiya (AHD) 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7

3/4: 3-Arya Kataria (AHD) def 4-Aayush Tanna (SRT) 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9

Sub Junior Girls’ (U-15):

F: 2-Pratha Pawar (AHD) def 4-Nidhi Prajapati (AHD) 11-9, 12-10, 12-10, 11-4

3/4: 1-Arnee Parmar (SRT) vs 3-Riya Jayswal (BVN) 11-5, 11-7, 5-11, 11-3

Cadet Boys’ (U-13):

F: 1-Arya Kataria (AHD) def 2-Vivaan Dave (SRT) 11-8, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7

3/4: 4-Sujal Kukadia (BVN) def 6-Abhilaksh Patel (BRD) 11-9, 13-11, 11-8

Cadet Girls’ (U-13):

F: 1-Pratha Pawar (AHD) def 2-Hiya Singh (AHD) 11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 11-3

3/4: 3-Moubini Chatterjee (AHD) def 4-Jiya Trivedi (AHD) 6-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-9

Hopes Boys’ (U-11):

F: 1-Vivaan Dave (SRT) def 2-Parv Vyas (AHD) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9

3/4: 4-Hridan Patel (SRT) def 3-Taksh Shah (AHD) 11-7, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8

Hopes Girls’ (U-11):

F: 1-Krisha Patel (SRT) def 3-Charmy Trivedi (BVN) 12-10, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8

3/4: 2-Daniya Godil (SRT) def 4-Richa Rawat (SRT) 11-4, 11-9, 11-8