GUWAHATI, Feb 13 � Defending champions Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) made a clean sweep in the team events of the OIL 71st Senior National and Inter State Table Tennis Championship. In the team finals at the Tarun Ram Phookan Indoor Stadium here today, PSPB women�s team posted a 3-1 victory against Railway Sports Promotion Board 3-1, while their men�s team inflicted a 3-0 drubbing to Maharashtra A. Studded with nation�s top ranking players, the Petroleum paddlers never had to toil as their opponent hardly could counter their services or jabs.
In the women�s title clash, Madhurika Patkar and K Shamini put PSPB 2-0 ahead defeating Anindita Chakraborty 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 and Mansi Bhagawat 13-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-5 respectively.
But Prajakta Tipale put a hurdle on PSPB by winning the third singles for Railways against Divya Despande 10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6. It was, however, a simple break for the sturdy PSPB women, as the defending national champion and India No. 1 K Shamini outed Anindita in the fourth singles 11-4, 11-7, 11-8, overpowering her in every aspect.
The PSPB men, led by national champion A Sharath Kamal, never allowed the Maharashtra A players to take control and demolished them 3-0 to retain the title. Sharath began with a winning note trouncing Aniket Koparkar 11-7, 14-12, 9-11, 12-10, while Soumyadeep Roy was forced to struggle by Sanil Shetty. Roy finally won the second singles 12-10, 8-11, 15-13, 7-11, 12-10 in a gruelling battle for supremacy.
The third singles was also a keenly contested one as the current Indian team player A Amalraj had to go for a five setter to beat Aman Balgu 11-9, 11-3, 8-11, 9-11, 11-4.
All the players showed tremendous control on the board and entertained the crowd through out the course with scintillating spins, long rallies and powerful jabs.
State Excise Minister Gautam Roy was the chief guest in the prize distribution function of the team events. Editor of The Assam Tribune PG Baruah, OIL GM AH Tapadar, TTFI secretary Dhanraj Chouhan, Assam Cricket Association secretary Bikash Baruah were present as guests in the function, where Assam Table Tennis Association secretary Tridib Duvarah welcomed the gathering.
The qualifying rounds of the open singles events got off today with the doubles events starting yesterday.
