The stage is set for an exciting final in the women’s team event at the 87th UTT Senior National Table Tennis Championships, with the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) and the Reserve Bank of India Sports Board (RBI) advancing to the title clash after impressive semifinal victories at the Abhay Prashal Stadium on Monday.
Both teams produced dominant performances in the last-four ties, underlining their depth and consistency as they moved one step closer to the national title.
PSPB blank Uttar Pradesh to reach final
PSPB secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Uttar Pradesh in the semifinal, though the scoreline did not fully reflect the competitive exchanges during the tie.
Syndrela Das gave PSPB the perfect start by defeating Avani Tripathi in straight games. Displaying composure and control from the outset, Das maintained a steady rhythm to take the contest 11-8, 11-6, 11-5, giving PSPB the early lead.
The second rubber proved to be the most dramatic of the tie. Taneesha Kotecha faced a stern test against Aarti Chaudhary in a thrilling five-game encounter that swung back and forth. Kotecha took the opening two games narrowly, but Chaudhary fought back to level the match and push it to a decider. In a tense final game, Kotecha held her nerve to edge the contest 12-10, 11-7, 9-11, 10-12, 12-10, doubling PSPB’s advantage.
With the tie on the line, Sayali Wani delivered a composed performance against Disha in the third rubber. After comfortably winning the first two games, Wani briefly allowed her opponent back into the match before regaining control to close it out 11-7, 11-2, 9-11, 14-12, sealing PSPB’s place in the final.
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In the other semifinal, RBI Sports Board defeated Karnataka 3-1 to secure their berth in the championship match. The tie began with Diya Chitale putting RBI ahead with a confident straight-games victory over Kushi Viswanath, winning 11-6, 11-5, 11-8. Chitale’s sharp attacking play and consistency from the baseline ensured RBI made a strong start.
Ayhika Mukherjee then strengthened RBI’s position by comfortably beating Tanishka Kalbhairav in straight games. Mukherjee controlled the rallies with precision and accuracy, winning 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 to give her team a commanding 2-0 lead.
Karnataka, however, refused to concede without a fight. Trupti Purohit produced a spirited performance against Nikhat Banu, prevailing in a dramatic five-game contest to keep her team alive. The closely contested encounter saw momentum shift several times before Purohit eventually secured the win 16-18, 16-14, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7.
With the pressure back on RBI, Diya Chitale returned for the fourth rubber and once again rose to the occasion. Facing Kalbhairav for the second time in the tie, Chitale produced a composed performance to win 11-5, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, sealing the tie and RBI’s spot in the final.
Uttar Pradesh create history in quarterfinals
Before the semifinal stage, the tournament had already witnessed a historic moment when Uttar Pradesh reached the women’s medal rounds for the first time.
UP achieved the milestone with a 3-1 victory over Maharashtra in the quarterfinals. Avani Tripathi played a pivotal role in the victory, winning both her matches. She first edged Pritha Vartikar in a hard-fought five-game battle before returning later to defeat Senhora D’Souza in four games to seal the tie.
Although Aarti Chaudhary lost to D’Souza, Disha kept Uttar Pradesh firmly in contention with a gritty five-game victory over Ananya Chande, ensuring the team advanced to the semifinals.
Elsewhere in the quarterfinals, PSPB defeated Delhi 3-1 after initially falling behind when Sayanika Maji overcame Taneesha Kotecha. However, Yashaswini Ghorpade quickly restored parity by beating Lakshita Narang, and later returned to defeat Maji in straight games to clinch the tie. Syndrela Das also contributed with a crucial victory over Vanshika Mudgal.
RBI advanced with a commanding 3-0 win over Gujarat, highlighted by dominant performances from Ayhika Mukherjee and Diya Chitale, while Sreeja Akula recovered after losing the opening game to defeat Frenaz Chipia. Karnataka also impressed, defeating Tamil Nadu 3-1, with Tanishka Kalbhairav delivering a standout performance by winning both her matches.
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While the women’s final lineup has been decided, the men’s team competition is also reaching its decisive stage. In the men’s quarterfinals, Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), Telangana, West Bengal, and PSPB progressed to the semifinals.
RSPB produced a commanding 3-0 victory over Delhi, while West Bengal advanced with a 3-1 win against Assam, thanks to strong performances from Ankur Bhattacharjee and Aniket Sen Choudhury.
PSPB defeated Tamil Nadu 3-1, with key contributions from Manav Thakkar, Sanil Shetty, and Harmeet Desai. Meanwhile, Telangana edged Karnataka 3-1, with K.J. Aakash playing a crucial role.
With the women’s final now set between PSPB and RBI and the men’s semifinals underway, the championships are heading toward an exciting climax in Indore, where the country’s top table tennis teams continue their battle for national supremacy.
