Kolkata: Bengal paddlers claimed a team ‘double’ in the 86th UTT Junior and Youth Nationals in Vadodara on Friday. In a rematch of last edition’s final, Bengal prevailed over Tamil Nadu 3-0 in the youth boys’ U-19 team final just days after their girls’ team clinched the title dethroning Maharashtra in the U-19 team championship with a convincing 3-1 victory in the final.
Top-seeded Bengal lived up to expectations as their star player Ankur Bhattacharya gave the side the right start beating TN’s MR Balamurugan 3-0 (12-10, 11-9, 11-9) in the boys’ first match. Despite committing early errors, Ankur quickly found his rhythm to win in straight games giving Bengal a 1–0 lead.
TN’s star paddler PB Abhinand, still competing in the U-17 category, fought valiantly against Bengal’s Punit Biswas in a marathon five-game battle. While Abhinand claimed one game and narrowly lost two others, the see-saw contest went into the deciding fifth game with both players pushing their rival to the limits. But it was Biswas who brought all his experience into the game to seal the decider and win 3-2 (9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9). With 2-0 up, Bengal’s Shankhadip Das did not allow Preyesh Raj to settle down as he exploited his opponent’s unforced errors well to comfortably win 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-9) and bag the championship.
Bengal fielded Oishik Ghosh for the first time in the tournament in the semifinal against Assam, which they won 3–1 with Shankhadip losing the only game.
In the girls’ section, Syndrela Das was the architect of Bengal’s success. In the final, she set the tone by edging out Taneesha Kotecha 3-0 (12-10, 11-9, 11-8). Nandini Saha carried on the momentum, giving Bengal 2-0 lead by beating Sayali Wani 3-1 (11-3, 6-11, 12-10, 11-7).
However, Maharashtra were not ready to throw in the towel as Pritha Vartikar pulled one back by subduing Ditsa Roy 3-2 (11-7, 11-8, 3-11, 10-12, 11-5).
With the title on the line, Syndrela delivered a stunning performance in the reverse singles. Despite trailing 1-2 at one stage, she unleashed a series of attacking shots to outplay Sayali 3-2 (11-8, 5-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6) and seal the championship.
In the semis, Bengal blanked Tamil Nadu 3-0.
Team Finals
Boys (U-19): Bengal bt Tamil Nadu 3-0 (Ankur Bhattacharjee bt MR Balamurugan 12-10, 11-9, 11-9; Punit Biswas bt PBAbhinand 9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11- 9, 11-9; Shankadip Das bt Preyesh Raj Suresh11-9, 11-7, 11-9).
Girls (U-19): Bengal bt Maharashtra 3-1 (Syndrela Das bt Taneesha Kotecha 12-10, 11-9, 11-8, Nandini Saha bt Sayali Wani 11-3, 6-11, 12-10, 11- 7, Dista Roy lost to Pritha Vartikar7-11, 8-11, 11-3, 12-10, 5-11, Syndrela bt Sayali 11-8, 5-11, 9-11, 11-4,11-6).