Indore, November 4: Second seed Ankur Bhattacharjee of West Bengal delivered a commanding performance to clinch the men’s singles title at the third UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships, sweeping Railways’ Ronit Bhanja 4-0 in a largely one-sided final at Abhay Prashal on the concluding day. Earlier, 16-year-old Kavya Bhatt underlined her exceptional promise by lifting the women’s singles crown with poise and maturity.

Despite flashes of promise, Ronit failed to capitalise on crucial leads in the second and third games, allowing Ankur to seize control and close out the contest with authority. With sharp top-spin finishes and composed rally play, Ankur left no doubt about his dominance. At the same time, Kavya’s brilliant run reinforced the rise of a new generation—making it a memorable finale for India’s emerging stars.

Kavya, with her calm demeanor, was the standout performer of the tournament, winning two of the three finals she contested, including the Under-17 crown. At just 16, she joined the select group of youngsters to clinch the women’s singles title, asserting her rising stature. She narrowly missed adding the U-19 title, where Tamil Nadu’s Ananya Muralidharan capitalised on the big moment.

In the women's final, Kavya bounced back after losing the opening game to Taneesha, edging out two tense deuce games—saving multiple game points in the second—to lead 2-1. Taneesha, returning after two tournaments out due to illness, fought hard to level the match, but a string of unforced errors in the fifth game cost her momentum. Kavya seized control, pulling ahead and sealing the sixth game with authority to lift the title.

Ronit staged a strong comeback to defeat H. Jeho in a six-game battle in the semifinals. After trailing twice, Ronit recovered with composed play to secure the last three games, winning 6-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8. In the second match, Ankur dominated from start to finish, overpowering experienced PSPB paddler Harmeet Desai in straight games with aggressive and consistent play, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6, 11-3. Ankur’s trademark backhand with forehand top spins brooked little challenge from his seasoned opponent.

Taneesha edged past Diya Chitale, who was the winner in Delhi, in a dramatic seven-game semifinal contest in the women’s singles. After trading momentum throughout, Taneesha held firm in the final stages, clinching the last two games to win 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-7. Kavya delivered a commanding performance against Sutirtha Mukherjee, controlling most of the match with confident strokes and steady rhythm. Despite dropping one game, she closed out the match 11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7.

Ronit and Jeho produced gritty performances to enter the men’s semifinals, both edging out their rivals in thrilling five-game contests. Harmeet cruised past M. Senthil Kumar in straight games, while Ankur ousted Jash Modi 3–1 to complete the last-four lineup.

In women’s singles, Diya and Taneesha stormed into the semifinals with dominant 3–0 wins. Sutirtha overcame a stiff challenge from Sampada Bhiwandkar in a tense 3–2 battle, and Kavya eased past Yashaswini Ghorpade in straight games.

Priyanuj, Ananya claim U-19 titles

Assam’s Priyanuj Bhattacharyya claimed the U-19 Youth Boys’ crown with a confident 12-10, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6 win over Tamil Nadu’s M. R. Balamurugan. Priyanuj seized early momentum, absorbed a brief fightback in the third game, and finished strongly with sharp attacking play and steady control.

Tamil Nadu’s Ananya Muralidharan secured the U-19 Youth Girls’ crown, defeating Maharashtra’s Kavya Bhatt 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9. After a strong start, Ananya held off the left-hander’s late surge, showing composure in crucial points to close out a tight fourth and fifth game.

Both youngsters impressed with discipline and maturity, underscoring their rising stature in youth table tennis.

Among the Boys, M. Balamurugan and Priyanuj advanced with 3–1 victories, while Senthil Kumar and Neil Mulye registered convincing 3–0 wins, advancing to the semifinals.

In the Girls, Ananya was in sublime form, blanking M. Hansini 4–0, the winner of the previous ranking event in Delhi. Dista and Kavya recorded comfortable wins, as Syndrela joined them in the semifinals with a confident 3–1 triumph.

RESULTS:

Men’s singles: Final: Ankur Bhattacharjee (WB) bt Ronit Bhanja (RSPB) 11-4, 18-16, 11-9, 11-3.

Semifinals: Ronit bt H. Jeho (Miz) 6-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8; Ankur bt Harmeet Desai (PSPB) 11-6, 11-8, 11-6, 11-3.

Quarterfinals: Ronit bt Manush Shah (RBI) 3-2; Jeho bt Sanil Shetty (PSPB) 3-2; Harmeet bt M. Senthil Kumar (TN) 3-0; Ankur bt Jash Modi (Mah) 3-1.

Women Singles: Final: Kavya Bhatt (Mah) bt Taneesha Kotecha (Mah) 5-11, 17-15, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9.

Semifinals: Taneesha bt Diya Chitale (RBI) 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-7; Kavya bt Sutirtha Mukherjee (RSPB) 11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7.

Quarterfinals: Diya bt Yashini Sivashankar (TN) 3-0; Taneesha bt Suhana Saini (Har) 3-0; Sutirtha bt Sampada Bhiwandkar (Mah) 3-2; Kavya bt Yashaswini Ghorpade (PSPB) 3-0.

Youth Boys U-19: Final: Priyanuj Bhattacharyya (Asm) bt M. R. Balamurugan (TN) 12-10, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6.

Semifinals: Balamurugan bt M. Senthil Kumar (TN) 12-10, 11-3, 11-4; Priyanuj bt Neil Mulye (Mah) 4-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8.

Quarterfinals: M. Balamurugan bt Arjav Gupta (Del) 3-1; Senthil Kumar bt Priyanshu Karmakar (WB) 3-0; Neil Mulye bt Trishal Raj Kumar (PSPBA) 3-0; Priyanuj bt Sarthak Arya (Ods) 3-1.

Youth Girls U-19: Final: Ananya Muralidharan (TN) bt Kavya Bhatt (Mah) 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9.

Semifinals: Ananya bt Ditsa Roy (WB) 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7; Kavya bt Syndrela Das (WB) 11-5, 7-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-0.

Quarterfinals: Ananya bt M. Hansini (TN) 4-0; Dista bt Jennifer Varghese (Mah) 3-0; Kavya bt Riddhima Kapoor (Del) 3-1; Syndrela bt Shreya Dhar (WB) 3-1.