Mumbai : India No.11 Divya Deshpande roared past hapless Charvi Kawle in straight games in the women’s singles final of the MCF-All Mumbai Ranking Table Tennis tournament, hosted by Mandpeshwar Civic Federation at their sports complex, on Wednesday. Divya, playing at her best, gave her rival hardly any time to settle down before she triumphed 11-9, 11-2, 11-7, 11-8.
On the other hand, Eric Fernandes, after a hiatus for almost two seasons, showed in abundance that he is back at his best as he outplayed Harsh Maniar 11-6, 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7 to win the coveted men’s singles title.
Mandar Hardikar and Manushree Patil, who were in line for a double crown, lived up to expectations as Mandar won the youth, beating Jignesh Rahatwal 11-4, 11-5, 13-11, 12-14, 11-3 and junior boys final at the expense of Shubham Ambre, whom he beat 11-7, 11-9, 11-8, 5-11,11-4. But Manushree bagged the junior scoring a terrific upset win over Ashlesha Trehan 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9, 13-15, 11-8 and sub-junior final against Aditi Sinha 5-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-5, 11-7.
Surprisingly the best final of the day proved to be the sub-junior boys singles between Maanav Mehta and Jash Jobalia, which saw both executing some terrific fast-paced counter-attacking rallies, which had the goodly crowed roaring in delight with Maanav in the end prevailing at 3-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7.
