Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau
The mixed doubles table tennis matches at the 38th National Games were filled with excitement and intense competition. Held at the multi-purpose hall of Parade Ground, the tournament witnessed players showcasing their hard work and exceptional skills.
The first match featured Anirban Ghosh and Ahika Mukherjee from West Bengal against Amalraj Anthony and Shivshankar Anthony from Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu’s pair started strong, winning the first set 7-11, but West Bengal made a stunning comeback. They clinched the next three sets 11-3, 11-6, and 11-4, securing their place in the semifinals.
In the second match, Maharashtra’s Kash Modi and Tanisha Kotecha faced West Bengal’s Ronit Bhanja and Sutirtha Mukherjee. The first set was a tough challenge for Maharashtra, as West Bengal won 13-15. However, Kash and Tanisha displayed brilliant gameplay and won the next three sets 11-3, 11-8, and 11-4.
The third match saw Maharashtra’s Albuquerque Regan and Swastika Ghosh taking on West Bengal’s Akash Pal and Poymanti Baisya. This intense match extended to five sets, with neither side willing to concede. Maharashtra took an early lead, winning the first two sets 11-7 and 11-5, but West Bengal fought back to claim the third and fourth sets 7-11 and 8-11. In the decisive fifth set, Maharashtra emerged victorious with an 11-8 win.
Finally, the fourth match featured Maharashtra’s Chinmay Somaiya and Reeth Rishya against Tamil Nadu’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Selena Deepti Selvakumar. Tamil Nadu took an early lead, winning the first set 5-11, but Maharashtra leveled the game by taking the second set 11-9. Tamil Nadu regained their advantage with a 9-11 win in the third set, but Maharashtra bounced back to win the next two sets 11-4 and 11-7, securing a thrilling victory.
