Positive response, India emerges victorious

Impressive performances, reflecting current progress, India ‘A’ won the Junior Girls’ Team title at the 2018 Serbia Junior and Cadet Open on Saturday 22nd September.

Worthy adversaries, the trio comprising Diya Parag Chitale, Swastika Ghosh and Anusha Kutumbale rose to the challenges presented.

A three matches to one outcome was the victory margin in the final against Singapore’s Goi Rui Xuan, Pearlyn Koh Kai Xin and Wong Xin Ru, a contest in which Diya Parag Chitale proved the backbone of success.

In the opening match of the fixture she beat Wong Xin Ru (11-3, 11-9, 11-7) to give her team the ideal start, before in the fourth engagement overcoming Goi Rui Xuan, a contest that ended in somewhat unfortunate circumstances. Divya Parag Chitale lost the opening two games; recovered to capture the next two before injury forced Goi Rui Xuan to withdraw from proceedings (10-12, 3-11, 14-12, 14-12, inj).

The one further win for India was secured by Anusha Kutumbale in the third match of the fixture when she overcame Pearlyn Koh Kai Xin (11-3, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6); the one success for Singapore was secured thanks to the efforts of Goi Rui Xuan, in the second match of the engagement, she beat Swastika Ghosh (10-12, 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4).

Earlier at the semi-final stage Diya Parag Chitale, Swastika Ghosh and Anusha Kutumbale had recorded a most imposing three-nil win in opposition to Slovakia’s Ema Labosova, Dasa Sinkarova and Jana Terezkova.

A comfortable penultimate round success for the champions elect; for Singapore, at the semi-final stage life had been far more difficult.

Success by three matches to two against the India ‘B’ team outfit comprising Radhapriya Goel, Prapti Sen and Paymantee Baisya was the end result. Mainstay of the victory was Goi Rui Xuan who accounted for both Radhapriya Goel (10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4) and Prapti Sen (5-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6). The one further Singaporean win was secured in the vital fifth match of the engagement when Wong Xun Ru overcame Radhapriya Goel (11-5, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6).

Play concludes on Sunday 23rd September with the Cadet Boys’ Singles, Cadet Girls’ Singles, Cadet Boys’ Doubles and Cadet Girls’ Doubles events.

Source : ITTF