Backend tournament promises a thrilling finish

Bengaluru: After traveling around the country for three months, the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships will conclude here with back-to-back tournaments in the southern states. This final leg of the season offers players a crucial opportunity to consolidate their position in the rankings and make a strong impression before the end of the year.

The eight-day event, which will kick off on Sunday at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, will begin with senior players taking to the stage. Hosting an event of this scale after seven years, the Karnataka Table Tennis Association has provided world-class playing conditions, an engaging atmosphere and pleasant weather of Bengaluru that will definitely add to the experience.

The decline in attendance in Thiruvananthapuram has been somewhat halted here and the increase in attendances for the final event of the calendar is a welcome sign. However, it is important that the quality of the competition remains as high as ever. However, two important players will attract the attention of the audience. Reigning champion Manush Shah from RBI had to withdraw due to a shoulder injury and G. Sathiyan is currently training in Poland. Their absence presents other players with a golden opportunity to aim for top podium positions and collect vital qualification points, which could move them closer to national team selection.

While Harmeet Desai is currently leading the men’s points table, Under-19 player Ankur Bhattacharjee has made waves with his impressive performances and secured the fourth spot. Manav Thakkar, who rose to fifth place after the semi-final defeat in the previous tournament, aims to recover even though Harmeet aims to maintain its leadership. Young talents like Payas Jain and Akash Pal are also making their presence felt, making the competition intense and unpredictable.

In the women’s section, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Poymantee Baisya share the top spot but their rankings are under constant threat from consistent performers like Swastika Ghosh and Diya Chitale. Fortunately for the leaders, Diya will not be able to participate in this tournament, which will provide some respite. Sreeja Akula, who is recovering from her injury, did not compete in the last two races. This offers others the opportunity to climb the rankings and increase their self-confidence.

Rising stars like Syndrela Das, who recently defeated Yashaswini Ghorpade, as well as Maharashtra’s Pritha Vartikar, Taneesha Kotecha and Sayali Wani, have shown remarkable promise and determination, often challenging their more experienced counterparts. The local atmosphere and support should help Yashaswini recover to maintain her reputation.

There were 274 participants in men’s singles and 164 in women’s singles, including Under-19 players, in the championships. The top 16 players in each category will advance directly to the second stage, while the remaining participants will compete in the group stages to earn their place. After the senior competitions, the focus will shift to the Young Boys and Girls teams in the U-19, U-17, U-15, U-13 and U-11 categories, adding excitement to the tournament.

The competition is managed by N. Ganeshan and his experienced team, including experienced umpire TG Upadhyay and his assistants Mangesh Mopkar and Krishna Kumar, and is committed to ensuring a smooth operation. Played with DHS balls on 24 Stag Global tables, the tournament provides a suitable stage for senior and under-19 players to showcase their skills in accordance with international standards.

As the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championship draws to a close, Bengaluru promises to deliver an exciting final that will highlight India’s best table tennis talent and lay the foundation for future stars of the sport.