The fifth UTT National Ranking Championships came to a compelling close at the Harivansh Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium, with Delhi’s Payas Jain and Railways’ Sutirtha Mukherjee emerging as the men’s and women’s singles champions respectively.
The final day delivered high-quality table tennis, dramatic momentum shifts and strong performances across senior and youth categories, offering a fitting conclusion to the domestic season.
In the men’s singles final, Payas Jain showcased resilience and tactical maturity to overcome Railways’ Jeet Chandra 4-2 in a match that turned decisively after a slow start. Jeet seized early control, taking the first two games by dictating rallies and forcing errors from the Delhi paddler. Trailing 0-2, Payas recalibrated his approach, reducing unforced errors and using the wide angles more effectively to break Jeet’s rhythm.
The change in tactics paid immediate dividends. Payas levelled the contest by winning the next two games and then tightened his grip on the match, controlling the pace and attacking selectively. From there, he looked increasingly assured, closing out the final two games to seal a memorable comeback victory and end his season on a high.
The women’s singles final was an equally absorbing contest, as Sutirtha Mukherjee edged past Maharashtra’s Sayali Wani in a gripping seven-game battle. The experienced Railways campaigner started strongly, taking the opening two games with her trademark consistency and placement. However, Sayali, showing maturity beyond her years, refused to fade and responded with fearless shot-making to push the match deep.
Sayali forced a decider by winning the fifth and sixth games, drawing loud applause from the Ranchi crowd for her relentless fight and composure under pressure. In the final game, Sutirtha’s experience proved decisive. She steadied herself, controlled the rallies early, and pulled away to clinch the title. While Sutirtha celebrated another national crown, Sayali’s performance stood out as one of the highlights of the tournament, underlining her growing stature on the domestic circuit.
The semifinals earlier in the day had set the stage for a strong finish. In the men’s singles, Jeet Chandra displayed nerves of steel to overcome PSPB’s Sanil Shetty 4-1. Despite several tight mid-game situations, Jeet held his composure, using precision and timely attacks to close out the contest. Payas Jain, meanwhile, was in commanding form in his semifinal, sweeping past Mizoram’s H. Jeho in straight games. Using aggressive forehands and controlling the tempo from the outset, Payas underlined his confidence heading into the final.
On the women’s side, Sutirtha Mukherjee outlasted Tamil Nadu’s Yashini Sivashankar in a high-quality five-game semifinal. The match featured long rallies and momentum swings, particularly in a tense third game that saw multiple lead changes. Sutirtha eventually prevailed 11-8, 11-13, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5. In the other semifinal, Sayali Wani produced a spirited comeback to defeat PSPB’s veteran Madhurika Patkar 4-2, sealing her place in the final amid loud cheers from the stands.
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The youth categories also produced standout performances. In the Youth Boys Under-19 final, P.B. Abhinand of Tamil Nadu delivered a composed and authoritative display to defeat PSPBA’s Sahil Rawat in straight games. Abhinand’s control, precision and consistency ensured Rawat was never able to settle into his left-handed rhythm, as the Tamil Nadu paddler wrapped up the title in emphatic fashion.
The Youth Girls Under-19 final saw Delhi’s Sayanika Maji hold her nerve to overcome West Bengal’s Syndrela Das in a five-game contest. Sayanika raced to a three-game lead before Syndrela mounted a late comeback, forcing a tense finish. In the deciding game, Sayanika’s defensive discipline and calm shot selection proved crucial as she closed out the match to secure the national ranking title.
The semifinal rounds in the youth events mirrored the intensity of the finals. Sahil Rawat overcame Assam’s Priyanuj Bhattacharyya in a demanding five-game battle, while Abhinand eased past M.R. Balamurugan of Tamil Nadu in straight games. In the girls’ semifinals, Sayanika defeated Maharashtra’s Naisha Rewaskar in four games, and Syndrela Das battled through a tight encounter against Kavya Bhatt, winning two deuce games to progress.
As the curtains came down in Ranchi, the championships once again highlighted the depth and competitiveness of India’s domestic table tennis circuit. With established names asserting their class and young talents making strong statements, the fifth UTT National Ranking Championships provided a timely reminder of the sport’s healthy pipeline and the intensity that continues to define the national season.
