Telangana table tennis players S. Fidel R. Snehit and Akula Sreeja clinched silver medals as the duo went down in the finals of the boys and girls categories respectively at the national ranking table tennis tournament held at Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
Based on his fine-form Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has selected Snehit to represent India in the Jordan Junior & Cadet Open (ITTF Junior Circuit Tournament) to be held in Amman, Jordan, from July 25 to 29.
Snehit, who dished out his ‘A’ game throughout the tournament, failed to hold his nerves in the final and was blanked 0-4 by Manav Thakkar of PSPB. The scores of the four games read 8-11, 11-13, 7-11, 8-11.
S. Fidel R. Snehit in action during the national ranking table tennis tournament held at Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Snehit lost the final to Manav Thakkar of Petroleum Sports Board.
Earlier in the semifinals, Snehit carved out a dominant 4-2 (12-10, 11-4, 11-2, 9-11, 10-12, 11-2) win over Anukram Jain.
Snehit, bronze medallist in the Junior Nationals last year, had to toil hard to clinch a victory in the quarterfinals though. Both Jeet Chandra and Snehit headed neck-and-neck and were not ready to miss a single opportunity in a tightly contested match. But, it was the boy from Telangana who capitalised on the mistakes of his opponent and had the last laugh. The final verdict read 4-3 (11-6, 4-11, 12-10, 10-12, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7) in Snehit’s favour.
Meanwhile, in the girls category, Sreeja too faltered after a successful journey to the finals, where she lost out to Sutirtha 1-4 (4-11, 11-5, 6-11, 10-12).
After losing the first game, Sreeja fought back to level the scores in the second but thereafter lost her way. She put up a fight again in the fifth game before losing it 10-12.
The semifinal was keenly contested between Sreeja and Madhurika Patkar who fought tooth and nail against her opponent. However, her efforts went in vain as Sreeja won the match with a 4-3 (11-2, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 1-11, 9-11, 11-9) margin. Earlier in the quarterfinals, the Telangana girl blanked Moushumi Poul — 4-0 (11-9, 11-5, 13-11, 11-7).
The results
Boys singles final: S.F.R. Snehit lost to Manav Thakkar (PSPB) 0-4 (8-11, 11-13, 7-11, 8-11).
Semifinals: S.F.R. Snehit bt Anukram Jain (PSPB- ‘A’) 4-2 (12-10, 11-4, 11-2, 9-11, 10-12, 11-2).
Quarterfinals: S.F.R. Snehit bt Jeet Chandra (West Bengal) 4-3 (11-6, 4-11, 12-10, 10-12, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7).
Pre-quarterfinals: S.F.R. Snehit bt Khurana Hardik (DLI) 3-0 (11-9, 11-5, 11-9). Second round: S.F.R. Snehit bt Shroff Dev (MHR- ‘A’) 3-1 (11-9, 10-12, 11-5, 12-10).
Girls singles final: Akula Sreeja lost to Sutirtha 1-4 (4-11, 11-5, 6-11, 10-12). Semifinals: Akula Sreeja bt Madhurika Patkar 4-3 (11-2, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 1-11, 9-11, 11-9).
Quarterfinals: Akula Sreeja bt Moushumi 4-0 (11-9, 11-5, 13-11, 11-7).
Pre-quarters: Akula Sreeja bt Manika Batra 4-3 (11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 10-12, 11-7, 3-11, 13-11).
