The 87th UTT Senior National Table Tennis Championships in Indore delivered one of its most compelling days of action as the doubles finals took centre stage at the Abhay Prashal Stadium.
With high-intensity rallies, momentum swings, and pressure-filled deciders, Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) once again underlined its dominance in Indian table tennis by clinching both the men’s and women’s doubles titles.
Men’s Doubles: A Final of Fine Margins
The men’s doubles final was a classic contest defined by fine margins and shifting momentum. The RSPB pairing of Jeet Chandra and Anirban Ghosh edged past teammates Ronit Bhanja and Preyesh Raj Suresh in a gripping five-game encounter, winning 3-2.
Chandra and Ghosh started strongly, taking the first two games with controlled aggression and precise placement. Their ability to dictate rallies early put their opponents under pressure, and it appeared they were cruising towards a straightforward win. However, Bhanja and Preyesh responded with remarkable resilience. They clawed their way back into the match by taking the third game narrowly and then completely dominating the fourth, where they dismantled their opponents 11-1. At that stage, the momentum had firmly shifted.
The decider, however, showcased the composure and experience of Chandra and Ghosh. Regrouping under pressure, they executed their game plan with clarity, closing out the final game 11-8 to secure the national title. It was a performance that highlighted not just technical quality but also mental toughness at crucial moments.
Women’s Doubles: Composure Under Pressure
In contrast, the women’s doubles final saw a more controlled display from Sutirtha Mukherjee and Kaushani Nath, who defeated Avisha Karmakar and Nandini Saha of AAI 3-1.
Mukherjee and Nath combined consistency with sharp attacking play, particularly in transition phases. After taking the opening game, they briefly lost momentum as their opponents levelled the match. However, their ability to reset quickly proved decisive.
The Railways duo dominated the latter stages of the match, winning the third and fourth games with authority. Their tactical clarity mixing controlled rallies with well-timed attacking bursts—ensured they maintained control and closed out the contest efficiently.
Men’s Singles: Upsets Shake Up the Draw
While the doubles finals provided the headlines, the men’s singles pre-quarterfinals added another layer of intrigue to the tournament. The round saw several top seeds fall, significantly opening up the draw.
Top seed Manav Thakkar was tested but managed to overcome Sanil Shetty in four games, showcasing his ability to handle pressure in tight situations. However, the exits of prominent names such as SFR Snehit, Manush Shah, and Divyansh Srivastava highlighted the depth and competitiveness of the field.
Harmeet Desai emerged as the only surviving former national champion, but not without a fight. He edged past Aakash Pal in a tense five-game battle, relying on experience and composure in the decider.
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Among the standout performers, Maharashtra’s Kushal Chopda impressed with a gritty win over SFR Snehit, while Raegan Albuquerque advanced comfortably in straight games. Mizoram’s H. Neho also made a significant impact, bouncing back after losing the opening game to defeat Divyansh Srivastava.
Jeet Chandra continued his strong run, eliminating seeded contender Manush Shah in a five-game contest, further reinforcing his credentials across both singles and doubles formats.
Women’s Singles: Top Seeds Hold Firm
In the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals, the results were largely in line with expectations, with most top contenders progressing to the next stage.
Top seed Sreeja Akula faced resistance from Shruti Amrute but prevailed in four games, demonstrating control in key phases. Yashaswini Ghorpade and Sutirtha Mukherjee were particularly dominant, both registering straight-game victories with minimal resistance.
Syndrela Das also advanced comfortably, underlining her strong form in the tournament. However, a few matches did test the top players. Suhana Saini and Yashini Sivashankar each dropped a game before sealing their progression.
One of the standout contests came from Divyanshi Bhowmick, who staged a comeback win over Jennifer Varghese in five games, showing resilience after trailing in the match. Second seed Diya Chitale also had to recover after losing the opening game before advancing confidently.
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Across both doubles and singles events, one theme stood out clearly—Railways’ depth and dominance. With multiple players reaching advanced stages across categories, RSPB continues to be the benchmark in Indian table tennis.
Their success is not limited to individual brilliance but reflects a structured system that consistently produces high-performing athletes capable of delivering under pressure.
With the doubles titles decided, the focus now shifts to the business end of the singles competitions. The quarterfinals promise high-quality matchups, with a mix of established stars and emerging talents still in contention. The unpredictable nature of the men’s draw, combined with the steady progression of top seeds in the women’s section, sets up an intriguing finish to the championships.
As the tournament approaches its final stages, one thing is clear—whether through dominance or drama, the 87th UTT Senior National Table Tennis Championships continues to deliver elite-level competition, reaffirming its status as the pinnacle of domestic table tennis in India.
