Maharashtra teenager Diya Chitale, who recently tasted her maiden success in the senior circuit, has moved to the joint top position in the women’s ranking as per the TTFI’s list dated 9th January 2022. She shares first place with Mumbai-based Reeth Rishya of PSPB and Sreeja Akula of RBI.

The 18-year-old TSTTA, Mumbai, paddler Diya had earlier this week clinched the women’s singles crown in the UTT National Ranking (Central Zone) Table Tennis Championships in Indore and with the 90 points collected from that effort she accumulated a tally of 225 points the same as runner-up Reeth (60 points) and losing semi-finalist Sreeja (45 points).

Before the start of the Central Zone event, Diya was in joint fifth position, but she exhibited solid determination and resilience which enabled her to sideline the top two seeds en route to emerging champion that ensured her way to the top.

In the semi-finals, Diya after trailing 1-3 showed great character and recovered splendidly to overcome India’s number one ranked paddler and top-seeded Sreeja by snatching a tense 4-3 (8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-3, and 11-4) victory.

In the final, Diya having gained in confidence prevailed over Indian number 2 and second-seeded Reeth by pulling off a close 4-3 win in the best-of-7-game match, of fluctuating fortunes. The battled-hardened Diya came through winning at a 7-11, 11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 7-11, 12-11, and 11-8.

Source: Krida Vedh News