Paddlers from Ahmedabad and Surat dominated the Gujarat State & Inter District Table Tennis Championships in Gandhidham on Sunday, winning individual titles in a variety of categories. Chitrax Bhatt of Ahmedabad won the men’s title after a nail-biting final, while Surat’s Frenaz Chipia continued her dominance over district mate Filzah Kadri by winning the women’s title.
Bhatt lost the first game 9-11, but gradually increased his level to win 9-11, 11-3, 11-13, 11-7, 11-2, 5-11, 11-9. Frenaz, too, started unconvincingly, losing the first game 7-11, but rallied to win 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9.
Surat’s Aafrein Murad won the junior (U-19) girls’ singles, defeating Bhavnagar’s Namna Jayswal. 11-5, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8, while Pratham Badlani of Vadodara was crowned junior boys’ champion after injury forced Shlok Bajaj to withdraw from the match.
Arman Shaikh of Aravalli prevailed 4-3 over Surat’s Aayush Tanna in a tense junior (U-17) boys’ final.
Shaikh won 11-3, 11-7, 13-15, 6-11, 4-11, 14-12, and 11-8. Pratha Pawar of Ahmedabad defeated Riya Jayswal of Bhavnagar 11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-7 to win the junior (U-17) girls’ title.