Maharashtra paddlers dominated the veteran categories at the end of the first leg on the fifth day of the 32nd National Masters Table Tennis Championships at the Balewadi Indoor Stadium today.
In the Men’s 60+ singles final, Laxmanrao Thakre outclassed state-mate Vivek Alwani in straight games to clinch the title. Thakre later doubled his success, partnering Shailesh Gosain of Gujarat to win the Men’s 60+ doubles crown with a hard-fought victory over Pradeesh Gupta and Sanjay Sripad Jain.
The Men’s 65+ singles title went to Jayant Kulkarni, who edged past Prakash Kelkar in a closely contested five-game final. However, Kelkar bounced back to secure the 65+doubles title alongside Anil Rasam, overcoming Delhi’s Raavi Vashist and Anil Kumar Goel.
In other doubles events, Suhas Dandekar and Shivanand Kundaje triumphed in the Men’s 70+ category, while Chandigarh’s Patanjali and Balbir Singh Virdi claimed the 75+ crown.
West Bengal’s Mantu Murmu and Vivek Arora lifted the Mixed Doubles 60+ title, defeating Delhi’s Neeru Mehta and Anuj Sharma in straight games. Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Rajeshwari Mhetre and Umesh Kumbhojkar secured the Mixed Doubles 65+ title with a 3-1 win over Indu Sharma and Anil Kumar Goel.
With today’s events, the first leg of the championships concluded. After a rest day tomorrow, action will resume with team, singles and doubles events in the 40+, 45+, 50+ and 55+categories.
THE RESULTS:
Men’s Singles 60+: Final:Laxmanraoa Thakre (Mah) bt Vivek Alwani (Mah) 11-7, 11-6, 11-6.
Semifinals: Vivek bt Sanjay Sripad Jain (Mah) 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4; Laxmanrao bt Purushottam Markad (Mah) 12-14, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8.
Men’s Singles 65+: Final:Jayant Kulkarni (Mah) bt Prakash Kelkar (Mah) 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 11-13, 11-8.
Semifinals: Jayant btHarish Salvi (Mah) 11-2, 11-9, 11-4; Prakash bt Anil Kumar Goel (Del) 14-12,11-5, 11-5.
Men’s Doubles 60+: Final:Laxmanrao Thakre/Shailesh Gosain (Guj) bt Pradeesh Gupta/Sanjay Sripat Jain(Mah) 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8.
Semifinals:Laxmanrao/Shailesh bt Jayaram Kokku/M.Abbas (AP) 3-11, 13-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8;Pradeep/Sanjay bt Vivek Arora/Subhamoy Chatterjee (WB) 6-11, 14-12, 4-11, 11-2,12-10.
Men’s Doubles 65+: Final:Prakash Kelkar/Anil Rasam (Mah) bt Raavi Vashist/Anir Kumar Goel (Del) 11-4,11-6, 9-11, 11-7.
Semifinals: Anil/Prakashbt Pranaya Majumdar/Ravi Shanker Kaza (CG) 12-10, 11-5, 10-12, 11-9; Ravi/Anilbt Prakash/Rajesh 11-8, 11-7, 11-9.
Men’s Doubles 70+: Final:Suhas Dandekar/Shivanand Kundaje (Mah) bt Yogesh Desai/Percy Mehta (Mah) 14-12,11-7, 3-11, 9-11, 11-6.
Semifinals:Suhas/Shivanand bt Balkrishna Katdare/Ashok Kudwa (Mah) 11-5, 11-4, 11-4;Yogesh/Percy bt R.N. Masaldan (Del) 11-2, 11-4, 11-7.
Men’s Doubles 75+: Final:Patanjli/Balbir Singh Virdi (Chd) bt Mukund Dev Agarwal/Rampal Kumawat (Raj)11-6, 11-7, 11-9.
Semifinals: Mukund/Rampalbt Udayashankar Rao/G.Y. Prabhakar (Mar) 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10;Balbir/Patanjli bt P.V. Ramakrishnan/P. Irudhayaraj (TN) 8-11, 11-9, 8-11,11-3, 11-9.
Mixed Doubles 60+: Final:Mantu Murmu/Vivek Arora (WB) bt Neeru Mehta/Anuj Sharma (Del) 11-8, 11-7, 11-8.
Mixed Doubles 65+: Final:Rajeshwari Mhetre/Umesh Kumbhojkar (Mah) bt Indu Sharma/Anil Kumar Goel (Del)6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-7.
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