Himansh conquers Dhyey

Vadodara : Himansh Dahiya of Ahmedabad justified his top billing with a title in the U-17 Boys’ section at the IOCL 5th Gujarat State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament 2023 here at Sama Sports Complex. Himansh beat second seed Dhyey Jani to win his second title of the season.

The tournament scheduled from August 3 to 6 is held under the aegis of Gujarat State Table Tennis Association, is organized by Table Tennis Association of Baroda and is sponsored by UTT, GAIL and SAG.

The top-two seeds clashed in the U-17 Boys’s final, Himansh and Dhyey Jani, promising a mouth-watering encounter. The summit match commenced on a high note with Dhyey winning the first game and then Himansh squaring it in the second. Gaining confidence, Himansh didn’t look back and with some clean winners, forehand push and back push won the next three games and match 10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8.

Highlight of the third day was Vansh Modi’s upset win over Harshvardhan Patel of Aravalli in the U-17 Boys pre-quarter final match. Local boy, Vansh dropped just one game during his memorable 11-6, 8-11, 14-12, 11-6 victory over sixth seed. Unfortunately, Vansh couldn’t keep the winning momentum going and went down to another Aravalli player and third seed Janmejay Patel 3-11 4-11 7-11.

The U-19 boys’ competition also witnessed a couple of upsets. In the prequarterfinal matches Janmejay Patel beat sixth seed Abhilaksh Patel of Ahmedabad in straight games 11-7, 12-10, 11-5 while Malav Panchal got the better of Harsh Patel 11-9, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6 in the all-Ahmedabad contest. There were no other upsets as top seed Burhanuddin Malubhai, Arman Sheikh, Aayush Tanna and Himansh Dahiya sailed safely into the semifinals of the U-19 boys’ category.

Meanwhile, women’s competition got underway today and Krittwika Sinha Roy had a forgettable outing. The Surti who was title favourite after her successful UTT outing, conceded her first round match due to infection and fever.

Himansh Dahiya (1; AHD) bt Samarth Shekhawat (16; SRT) 12-10, 11-5, 11-9; Poojan Chandarana (9; BVN) bt Abhilaksh Patel (8; AHD) 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6; Vansh Modi (11; BRD) bt Harshvardhan Patel (6; ARV) 11-6, 8-11, 14-12, 11-6; Dhyey Jani (2; BVN) bt Malav Panchal (15; AHD) 4-11, 11-5, 9-11,11-6, 13-11;

Dhyey Jani (2; BVN) bt Arya Kataria (7; AHD) 13-11, 5-11, 11-2, 11-6; Janmejay Patel (3; ARV) bt Vansh Modi (11; BRD) 11-3, 11-4, 11-7; Himansh Dahiya (1; AHD) bt Poojan Chandarana (9; BVN) 10-12, 8-11, 12-10, 11-4, 12-10;

Dhyey Jani (2; BVN) bt Janmejay Patel (3; ARV) 11-8, 11-5, 11-8; Himansh Dahiya (1; AHD) bt Ayush Tanna (4; SRT) 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9;

Himansh Dahiya (1; AHD) bt Dhyey Jani (2; BVN) 10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8;

Burhanuddin Malubhai (1; SRT) bt Sujal Kukadia (16; BVN) 11-5, 11-3, 12-10; Dhyey Jani (8; BVN) bt Piyush Baid (AHD) 6-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-9; Janmejay Patel (11; ARV) bt Abhilaksh Patel (6; AHD) 11-7, 12-10, 11-5; Malav Panchal (10; AHD) bt Harsh Patel (7; AHD) 11-9, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6;

Arman Sheikh (2; ARV) bt Malav Panchal (10; AHD) 10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6; Aayush Tanna (3; SRT) bt Janmejay Patel (11; ARV) 13-11, 7-11, 11-6, 13-11; Himansh Dahiya (4; AHD) bt Arya Kataria (AHD) 13-11, 11-3, 7-11,9-11, 11-3; Burhanuddin Malubhai (1; SRT) bt Dhyey Jani (8;BVN) 11-5,9-11,11-8,11-6;