Pune youngster Pritha complete grand double

Photo: The champion Pritha Vartikar of Pune is all smiles as she proudly poses with the Junior girls’ singles trophy and displays the victory sign signifying her double success.

The champion Pritha Vartikar of Pune in action.

Mumbai, January 21:

Displaying tremendous confidence and playing with a high-level of consistency Pritha Vartikar of Pune District continued with her impressive winning performances and easily defeated Samrudhi Kulkarni of Solapur in four straight games in the Junior girls’ singles final of the Dr Ramesh Prabhoo Memorial 82^nd Maharashtra State Table Tennis Championship organized by The Suburban District Table Tennis Association and played at the Prabodhankar Thackeray Krida Sankul, Vile Parle, Mumbai on Thursday evening.

The 14-year-old Pritha, who had earlier clinched the Sub-junior girls’ singles crown on Wednesday, quashed the aspirations of left-handed Samrudhi by smoothly coasting to a 11-5, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 win and to complete a grand double. This is first time Pritha has won two titles in a championship.

The Pune girl, who is the reigning National sub-junior champion, played with controlled aggression and with quick top-spin drives on either flank she went on to rattle her Solapur opponent, who was unable to put up much of an opposition before caving in rather meekly.

Earlier, in a closely contested semi-final encounter, Pritha Vartikar had to work hard to overcome the spirited fight from home favourite Sampada Bhiwandkar (TSTTA) before snatching a deserving 5-11, 11-6, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4, 14-16 and 11-8 success to advance to the title round.

On another table, Samrudhi sidelined another Mumbai girl Vidhi Shah winning their semi-final clash in straight games. The bespectacled Vidhi tried her best to put up a fight, but she was unable to match the superior all-round play of the Solapur girl, who controlled play from the start to dictate terms throughout the contest. Samrudhi served well and was quick to go for her shot to finish off the rallies as she strolled to a straight-game 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 and 11-3 victory.

Results - Junior girls’ singles - Quarter-finals: Samrudhi Kulkarni (SOL) beat Shravani Sawant (THN) 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 13-11;

Vidhi Shah (TSTTA) beat Sayali Wani (NSK) 11-5, 7-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8;

Sampada Bhiwandkar (TSTTA) beat Kheya Shah (TSTTA) 11-5, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7;

Pritha Vartikar (PNA) beat Taneesha Kotecha (NSK)

11-7, 14-12, 14-12, 12-10.

Semi-finals: Samrudhi Kulkarni (SOL) beat Vidhi Shah (TSTTA) 11-5, 11-7, 11-9, 11-3;

Pritha Vartikar (PNA) beat Sampada Bhiwandkar (TSTTA) 5-11, 11-6, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4, 14-16, 11-8.

Finals: Pritha Vartikar (PNA) beat Samrudhi Kulkarni (SOL) 11-5, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5.

पुण्याच्या पृथा वर्तीकरची ज्युनियर गटात देखील बाजी

मुंबई : 21 जानेवारी
आपल्या कामगिरीत सातत्य ठेवत पुण्याच्या पृथा वर्तीकरने मुलींच्या ज्युनियर गटातील अंतिम सामन्यात नागपूरच्या समृद्धी कुलकर्णीचा पराभव करत मुंबई उपनगर जिल्हा टेबल टेनिस असोसिएशन आयोजित रमेश प्रभू स्मृती 82 व्या महाराष्ट्र राज्य टेबल टेनिस अजिंक्यपद स्पर्धेत आपले सलग दुसरे  जेतेपद मिळवले. या स्पर्धेचे आयोजन विले पार्ले येथील प्रबोधनकार ठाकरे क्रीडा संकुल येथे करण्यात आले आहे.
बुधवारी 14 वर्षीय पृथाने मुलींच्या सब ज्युनियर एकेरी गटाचे जेतेपद मिळवले होते. तिने ज्युनियर गटाच्या अंतिम सामन्यात समृद्धी कुलकर्णीला 11-5, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 असे सरळ गेममध्ये पराभूत केले. राष्ट्रीय सब ज्युनियर विजेती असलेल्या पृथाने सामन्याच्या सुरुवातीपासूनच आपले वर्चस्व प्रस्थापित केले. तिला सोलापूरच्या खेळाडूने चांगले आव्हान दिले पण, पृथाने आपला फॉर्म कायम ठेवत विजय नोंदवला
त्यापूर्वी, चुरशीच्या उपांत्यफेरीच्या लढतीत पुण्याच्या पृथाने उपनगरच्या संपदा भिवंडकरला 5-11,11-6,11-5, 10-12, 11-4, 14-16, 11-8 असे नमविले. तर, अन्य उपांत्यलढतीत सोलापूरच्या समृद्धी कुलकर्णीने उपनगरच्या विधी शाहचा 11-5, 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 असा पराभव केला
ज्युनियर मुली :
उपांत्यपूर्व फेरी :
समृद्धी कुलकर्णी वि. वि. श्रावणी सावंत 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 3-11,11-7,13-11 , विधी शाह वि. वि. सायली वाणी 11-5, 7-11, 3-11,11-9, 11-7, 11-8,  संपदा भिवंडकर वि. वि. खेया शाह 11-5, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7, पृथा वर्तीकर वि.वि.तनीषा कोटेचा 11-7, 14-12, 14-12, 12-1
उपांत्यफेरी :
समृद्धी कुलकर्णी वि. वि. विधी शाह 11-5, 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 , पृथा वर्तीकर वि. वि. संपदा भिवंडकर 5-11,11-6,11-5, 10-12, 11-4, 14-16, 11-8
अंतिम फेरी :
पृथा वर्तीकर वि. वि. समृद्धी कुलकर्णी 11-5, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5