The SAMA Indoor Stadium proved a happy hunting ground in Vadodara TT Nationals for Manush Shah of RBI and Anusha Kutumbale of Railways, as both claimed prestigious singles crowns at the first UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships.
For Manush, it was a second men’s singles title at this venue, while for Anusha, it marked a breakthrough her maiden women’s singles gold. Top seed and reigning national champion Manush Shah, the stylish left-hander from Gujarat, was at his clinical best in the final. Facing 11th seed Ronit Bhanja of Railways, he dictated play with sharp placements and effortless rhythm, never allowing his opponent to settle. The result an emphatic straight-games victory was the culmination of a campaign where Manush rarely looked troubled.
Manush’s semifinal against Delhi’s Payas Jain had been a sterner test. After winning the first three games comfortably, he dropped the fourth before closing the match in a tense 14-12 finish. Ronit, meanwhile, reached the final with a 4-1 win over SFR Snehit of IA&AD, prevailing in tight games through aggressive counter-attacks and sharp service returns.
Anusha’s Breakthrough in Women’s Singles
If Manush’s triumph was expected, Anusha Kutumbale’s was a surprise. Seeded 12th, the Railways paddler produced two statement wins on the final day. In the semifinals, she dismantled top seed and reigning national champion Diya Chitale in four straight games after dropping the first, using her pace and precision to neutralize Diya’s topspin attacks.
In the final against Maharashtra’s Swastika Ghosh, Anusha stumbled early, conceding the opening game, but quickly adjusted her tactics. She combined crisp winners with smart variation to wrest control, eventually sealing a 4-1 victory. The win not only gave her a first National Ranking singles title but also underlined her growing stature on the domestic circuit.
Swastika’s own semifinal was a battle she overcame Yashaswini Ghorpade (PSPB) 4-2, fighting through shifts in momentum and staying composed in the decider.
Youth Titles: Priyanuj and Syndrela Strike
In the U-19 Youth Boys’ singles, Priyanuj Bhattacharyya of Assam delivered a commanding performance to defeat Maharashtra’s Kushal Chopda 4-0 in the final. From the very first rally, Priyanuj mixed power and consistency to keep his opponent under pressure, showing a maturity that contrasted with his earlier major finals.
Snehit and Ronit Spring Major Upsets as Top Seeds Exit in Vadodara TT Nationals
The U-19 Youth Girls’ singles saw Syndrela Das of West Bengal edge out Maharashtra’s Divyanshi Bhowmick 4-2 in a gripping contest. After losing the opener, Syndrela fought back to lead 2-1, saw Divyanshi level, and then clinched the sixth game 13-11 to claim her second national title.
Path to the Finals
- Men’s Singles Semifinals:
- Manush Shah (RBI) bt Payas Jain (Delhi) 11-6, 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 14-12
- Ronit Bhanja (RSPB) bt SFR Snehit (IA&AD) 11-9, 14-12, 10-12, 12-10, 11-9
- Women’s Singles Semifinals:
- Anusha Kutumbale (RSPB) bt Diya Chitale (RBI) 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9
- Swastika Ghosh (Maharashtra) bt Yashaswini Ghorpade (PSPB) 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7
- U-19 Youth Boys’ Semifinals:
- Kushal Chopda (Maharashtra) bt Oishik Ghosh (WB) 6-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-8
- Priyanuj Bhattacharyya (Assam) bt Punit Biswas (WB) 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-1
- U-19 Youth Girls’ Semifinals:
- Divyanshi Bhowmick (Maharashtra) bt Ditsa Roy (WB) 8-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-9
- Syndrela Das (WB) bt Ananya Muralidharan (TN) 9-11, 11-6, 10-12, 13-11, 11-7
Final Results
- Men’s Singles: Manush Shah (RBI) bt Ronit Bhanja (RSPB) 11-8, 11-5, 12-10, 11-7
- Women’s Singles: Anusha Kutumbale (RSPB) bt Swastika Ghosh (Maharashtra) 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9
- U-19 Youth Boys’ Singles: Priyanuj Bhattacharyya (Assam) bt Kushal Chopda (Maharashtra) 11-6, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7
- U-19 Youth Girls’ Singles: Syndrela Das (WB) bt Divyanshi Bhowmick (Maharashtra) 5-11, 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11
