Indore, December 25: The semifinals of the 52nd Institutional Table Tennis Championships at the Abhay Prashal produced high-quality action as PSPB and Railways booked their places in the men’s and women’s finals.

Top seeds PSPB continued their dominant run, brushing aside Indian Audit 3-1 in the men’s semifinals. Harmeet Desai laid a solid foundation with a four-game win over Abhimanyu Mitra before Manav Thakkar asserted control with a clinical straight-game victory against SFR Snehit.

Indian Audit stayed alive through H. Jeho, who got the better of Payas Jain in four games, but the resistance was short-lived. Manav returned to the table and sealed the tie emphatically, defeating Abhimanyu in straight games to send PSPB into the final.

In the second semifinal, Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) outlasted Airports Authority of India (AAI) 3-1 in a closely fought contest. Akaash Pal gave Railways the early lead, but AAI drew level through Deepit Patil’s convincing win over Ronit Bhanja.

RSPB regained control when Anirban Ghosh overcame Sudhanshu Maini in four games, and Ronit made amends for his earlier loss by defeating Yashansh Malik to complete the victory.

Diya Chitale gave RBI a flying start with a hard-fought five-game win over Anusha Kutumbale, before Nikhat Banu extended the advantage by overcoming Sutirtha Mukherjee in another close contest. RSPB stayed in the hunt when Kaushani Nath defeated Ayhika Mukherjee to reduce the deficit.

The tie turned dramatically in the fourth match when Sutirtha staged a superb comeback against Diya. After trailing early in the decider, Sutirtha surged ahead 5-1 and 8-3, then held her nerve despite a late rally from Diya to clinch the match and level the tie at 2-2.

With the final berth on the line, Nikhat Banu rose to the occasion once again. Showing composure and control, she outplayed Anusha Kutumbale in straight games to seal the deciding rubber and send RBI into the final.

Earlier, PSPB had booked their place in the women’s final with a 3-1 win over Indian Audit. Swastika Ghosh led from the front with two crucial victories, while Yashaswini Ghorpade added the third point to complete a clinical team performance.

PSPB underlined their title credentials with a 3–1 win over Canara Bank. Payas Jain set the tone with a five-game victory over Raegan Albuquerque before Manav Thakkar extended the lead against K.J. Akash. Canara Bank briefly rallied through Bodhisatwa Chaudhury’s straight-game win over G. Sathiyan, but Manav returned to seal the tie with another straight-game victory.

The Indian Audit also progressed with a 3–1 win over FCI. S.F.R. Snehit struck first, Wesley Do Rosario responded for FCI, but Aabhimanyu Mitra’s dominant win swung momentum back to Audit. Snehit then closed out the tie with a composed performance to book a semifinal spot.

Hosts AAI edged past RBI 3–2 in the closest contest of the round. Yashansh Malik and Sudhanshu Maini won their matches for AAI, while Manush Shah brought RBI to a level twice. Deepit Patil held his nerve in the decider to send AAI through. RSPB had a comfortable outing, sweeping aside LIC 3–0 with wins from Akash Pal, Ronit Bhanja, and Anirban Ghosh.

In the women’s section, Audit survived a 3–2 thriller against Canara Bank. After Subhankrita Datta gave Canara the lead, Yashini Sivashankar and Ananya Basak turned the tie around. Subhankrita forced a decider, but Anjali Rohilla clinched it for Audit. RSPB were more assured in their 3–1 win over AAI, led by two dominant victories from Sutirtha Mukherjee. Anusha Kutumbale added another rubber to seal their semifinal berth, while AAI’s only win came through Avisha Karmakar.

Results: (Team):

Men: Semifinals: PSPB bt Indian Audit 3-1 (Harmeet Desai bt Abhimanhyu Mitra 11-6, 6-11, 11-2, 13-11; Manav Thakkar bt SFR Snehit 11-7, 11-6, 11-4; Payas Jain lost to H. Jeho 8-11, 12-14, 11-4, 9-11; Manav bt Abhimanyu 11-6, 14-12, 11-9); RSPB bt AAI 3-1 (Akaash Pal bt Yashansh Malik 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7; Ronit Bhanja lost to Deepit Patil 3-11, 8-11, 11-7, 2-11; Anirban Ghosh bt Sudhanshu Maini 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9; Ronit bt Yashansh 7-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-5).

Quarterfinals: PSPB bt Canara Bank 3-1 (Payas bt Raegan Albuquerque 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8; Manav bt K.J. Akash 12-10, 11-6, 12-14, 11-7; G. Sathiyan lost to Bodhisatwa Chaudhury 6-11, 6-11, 9-11; Manav bt Raegan 11-4, 11-4, 11-4); Audit bt FCI 3-1 (Snehit bt Vansh Singh 13-11, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10; H. Jeho lost to Wesley Do Rosario 11-8, 4-11, 3-11, 12-10, 7-11; Abhimanyu bt Monorup Ghosh 11-3, 11-2, 11-7; Snehit bt Wesley 11-3, 3-11, 11-7, 11-5); AAI bt RBI 3-2 (Yashansh bt Raj Mondal 10-12, 11-9, 11-4, 12-10; Deepit lost to Manush Shah 8-11, 8-11, 8-11; Sudhanshu bt Vighney Reddy 14-12, 11-9, 11-6; Yashansh lost to Manush 11-9, 9-11, 3-11, 9-11; Deepit bt Raj 11-9, 11-6, 11-8) ; RSPB bt LIC 3-0 (Akash bt Sougata Sarkar 11-7, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9; Ronit bt Rohit Chakraborty 11-7, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6; Anirban bt Ravi Josh 11-6, 11-6, 11-5).

Women: Semifinals: PSPB bt Indian Audit 3-1 (Swastika Ghosh bt Anannya Basak 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9; Yashaswini Ghorpade bt Yashini Sivashankar 3-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6; Reeth Rishya lost Anjali Rohilla 10-12, 6-11, 11-6, 6-11; Swastika bt Yashini 9-11, 4-11, 11-2, 11-1, 11-3); RBI bt RSPB 3-2 (Diya Chitale bt Anusha Kutumbale 12-10, 11-9, 10-12, 9-11, 11-5; Nikhat Banu bt Sutirtha Mukherjee 11-4, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9, Ayhika Mukherjee losgtg to Kaushani Nagth 11-5, 5-11, 11-7, 4-11, 7-11, Diya lost to Sutirtha 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 5-11, 8-11; Nikhat bt Anusha 11-8, 11-7, 11-7).

Quarterfinals: Audit bt Canara Bank 3-2 (Anjali lost to Subhankrita Datta 6-11, 11-8, 15-17, 10-12; Yashini bt Naisha Rewaskar 11-7, 11-8, 11-5; Anannya bt Tanishka Kalabhairav 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9; Yashini lost to Subhankrita 5-11, 13-15, 7-11; Anjali bt Naisha 6-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7); RSPB bt AAI 3-1 (Sutirtha bt Nandini Saha 11-7, 11-6, 11-3; Anusha bt Ditsa Roy 11-6, 11-3, 11-9; Poymantee Baisya lost to Avisha Karmakar 6-11, 4-11, 11-9, 8-11; Sutirtha bt Ditsa 11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8).