The men’s doubles competition at the 87th UTT Senior National Table Tennis Championships delivered one of its most dramatic days at the Abhay Prashal Stadium, with the exit of top-seeded West Bengal pair Ankur Bhattacharjee and Shankhadip Das opening up the draw and setting the stage for a wide-open semifinal battle.
The headline moment came courtesy of the Tamil Nadu duo M.R. Balamurugan and Siddhesh Pande, who produced a composed and tactically sharp performance to upset the top seeds in a gripping quarterfinal clash. After conceding the opening game 6-11, the Tamil Nadu pair recalibrated effectively, taking control of rallies through precise placement and improved coordination.
They claimed the next two games 11-4, 11-4 before holding their nerve in a tense fourth game, sealing the match 13-11 to complete a memorable comeback victory.
The win not only underlined their resilience but also showcased their ability to manage pressure situations a critical factor in doubles competition where momentum can shift rapidly.
Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) emerged as the dominant force of the day, placing two pairs in the semifinals and reinforcing their depth in the doubles circuit. Jeet Chandra and Anirban Ghosh navigated a challenging contest against Haryana’s Wesley Do Rosario and Nikunj Attri, winning 3-1 in a match that featured multiple momentum swings.
After splitting the first two games, the RSPB pair tightened their game in crucial phases, edging the third 11-9 before closing out the fourth 12-10 with disciplined shot selection.
Their teammates Ronit Bhanja and Preyesh Raj Suresh, meanwhile, delivered one of the most authoritative performances of the round. Facing Odisha’s Sarthak Arya and Tushar Chauhan, the RSPB duo dominated from the outset, winning 3-0. The opening game, a one-sided 11-1 scoreline, set the tone for the contest, as they combined aggressive shot-making with relentless pressure to deny their opponents any rhythm.
The PSPB pair of Sanil Shetty and Divyansh Srivastava also advanced with a controlled 3-1 victory over Tamil Nadu’s Karthikeyan Solaiyan and Tharun Shanmugam. The left-right combination proved effective, allowing them to dictate angles and maintain tempo across rallies. After taking the first two games, they briefly faced resistance in the third but responded confidently to close out the match 11-6 in the fourth.
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Earlier in the day, the pre-quarterfinal stage had already hinted at the competitive intensity that would follow. The Bengal duo of Ankur and Shankhadip had survived a stern test against Rajasthan’s Yatharth Barthunia and Priyansh Bhati, winning 3-1 in a match defined by fine margins. The opening game, a marathon 16-14 contest, reflected the closeness between the pairs, and despite dropping the third, the Bengal duo held firm to progress.
Another high-quality encounter saw Odisha’s Sarthak Arya and Tushar Chauhan edge past Karnataka’s K.J. Aakash and P. Yeshwanth in a five-game thriller. After losing momentum mid-match, the Odisha pair regrouped strongly, dominating the fourth game before clinching the decider 11-9 in a tense finish.
Ronit and Preyesh also showed their resilience in the pre-quarterfinals, coming back from a game down against AAI’s Rupam Sardar and Soham Mukherjee. Their turnaround was marked by a dominant 11-2 third game, which decisively shifted momentum in their favour.
Across other matches, several pairs advanced with authority. Jeet and Anirban were clinical in their earlier round, particularly in a tight second game that they edged 14-12, while Sanil and Divyansh cruised through their pre-quarterfinal encounter with minimal resistance, underlining their status as one of the most balanced pairs in the draw.
With the semifinal line-up now confirmed, the competition has taken an intriguing turn. The exit of the top seeds has effectively opened the field, bringing a mix of established names and emerging combinations into contention for the title.
The Tamil Nadu pair’s victory has added a new dimension to the tournament narrative, positioning them as genuine contenders. Meanwhile, RSPB’s double presence in the semifinals highlights their structural strength and depth, while PSPB’s experienced duo continues to provide consistency and tactical clarity.
As the tournament progresses, the focus will shift to execution under pressure, with all remaining pairs capable of producing match-winning performances. The margins are expected to be narrow, and the ability to handle critical points will likely determine the eventual champions.
If Thursday’s action is any indication, the men’s doubles title race at the 87th UTT Senior National Championships promises to be fiercely contested, unpredictable, and reflective of the evolving competitive standards in Indian table tennis.
