Second seed Ankur Bhattacharjee of West Bengal delivered a clinical performance to capture the men’s singles title at the third UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships, defeating Railways’ Ronit Bhanja 4–0 in a dominant final at Abhay Prashal.
The day also belonged to 16-year-old Kavya Bhatt, who continued her rapid rise by lifting the women’s singles crown with confidence and composure.
Despite flashes of aggression from Ronit, the match largely followed Ankur’s script. Ronit held promising leads in the second and third games but failed to convert key points, allowing Ankur’s steady pressure and superior shot selection to dictate terms. Ankur’s blend of sharp backhand counters and controlled forehand top-spins left Ronit searching for answers. The match underscored the West Bengal paddler’s growing maturity and consistency on the national circuit.
Earlier in the semifinals, Ronit had fought back from twice being behind to defeat H. Jeho of Mizoram in six games. In contrast, Ankur recorded a commanding straight-games victory over Harmeet Desai, displaying the same authority that carried him through the final.
Kavya Signals Arrival of a New Wave
The women’s singles final showcased poise beyond age. Kavya began cautiously, losing the opening game to Maharashtra’s Taneesha Kotecha, but responded with resilience. She edged back-to-back deuce battles to take a 2–1 lead, showing control in long rallies and clarity in shot selection.
Taneesha, returning to full competition after illness, fought well to push the match into a sixth game. But a series of unforced errors early in the decider shifted momentum, and Kavya capitalised decisively to close out the title. Kavya’s campaign spoke to both promise and endurance. She contested three finals across age groups during the week, winning the women’s singles and U-17 titles, while finishing runner-up in U-19. At just 16, she now joins a select bracket of teenagers to claim a senior national ranking title an achievement signalling a clear step forward in her progression.
In the U-19 Youth Boys final, Assam’s Priyanuj Bhattacharyya claimed the title with a composed 4–1 victory over Tamil Nadu’s M. R. Balamurugan. Priyanuj controlled the tempo early, absorbed pressure in the third game, and sealed the match with disciplined attacking play. The U-19 Youth Girls final saw Ananya Muralidharan of Tamil Nadu defeat Kavya 4–1 in a well-contested match. Ananya’s strong start and composure in close fourth- and fifth-game phases proved decisive. The result further underlined the depth of emerging women’s talent across state programs.
Path to the Finals: Key Performances
- Men’s Singles Semifinals
- Ronit bt H. Jeho 6–11, 12–10, 9–11, 11–7, 11–6, 11–8
- Ankur bt Harmeet Desai 11–6, 11–8, 11–6, 11–3
- Women’s Singles Semifinals
- Taneesha bt Diya Chitale 9–11, 11–9, 11–9, 5–11, 4–11, 11–7, 11–7
- Kavya bt Sutirtha Mukherjee 11–5, 11–5, 9–11, 11–9, 11–7
Quarterfinal results across both draws reflected competitive balance, with experienced players tested by emerging contenders a theme that defined the tournament.
A Tournament That Reflects Transition
The championships in Indore highlighted a moment of transition in Indian table tennis. While experienced names retained their presence deep into the knockout rounds, the week belonged equally if not more to the next generation.
Kavya Bhatt’s breakthrough, Priyanuj’s control in the U-19 final, and the steady rise of Ananya, Jeho, and Syndrela illustrate a pipeline of talent developing well in domestic circuits. Meanwhile, Ankur’s dominant run reinforces that the pathway from promising junior to established senior remains open and competitive.
As the national calendar progresses, the performances in Indore will shape selection decisions, confidence trajectories, and rivalries that carry into the senior championships later this season.
