Vadodara men’s team shocks top seeds Ahmedabad to enter Gujarat TT Championship final

Gandhidham | Gujarat —  In one of the biggest upsets of the Gujarat State Table Tennis Championships 2025, the Vadodara men’s team delivered a spirited performance to topple top seeds Ahmedabad 3–2 and storm into the final of the team championship. The five-day event, organised by the Gujarat State Table Tennis Association (GSTTA) at the Late M.P. Mittra Indoor Stadium, Haresh Sangtani Sports Complex in Gandhidham, has witnessed several intense battles among the state’s best paddlers.

Vadodara stun Ahmedabad in a five-set thriller

For Vadodara, star paddler Pratham Madlani lived up to expectations, clinching both his matches with remarkable composure. Senior player Jalay Mehta held his nerve in the deciding rubber to secure a historic 3–2 victory, sending Vadodara into the final for the first time in several years.

They will now face defending champions Surat, who continued their dominant form with a convincing 3–0 win over Bhavnagar in the other semi-final. Surat’s trio — Devarsh Vaghela, Ayaz Murad, and Nutanshu Dayma — displayed all-round strength and consistency to seal their place in the title clash.

Surat women continue to dominate

In the women’s section, Surat’s women’s team showcased their class and depth with a commanding 3–0 victory over Bhavnagar to book their berth in the final. The defending champions will take on Ahmedabad, who overcame Navsari 3–1 in a well-fought semi-final encounter.

The Surat women, led by Frenaz Chipia, are aiming to retain their crown and have looked unstoppable so far, with strong support from teammates Filzahfatema Kadri and Aafrien Murad.

Young talent shines in junior and sub-junior categories

The Junior Boys (U-19) event witnessed Bhavnagar defeating Surat 3–1 to reach the final, where they will face Aravalli, who recorded a 3–1 victory over Ahmedabad.

In the Junior Girls (U-19) category, Ahmedabad cruised into the final with a clinical 3–0 win against Navsari, thanks to fine performances from Jiya Trivedi and Mouboni Chatterjee.

The Sub-Junior Boys (U-15) final promises an exciting contest between Ahmedabad, who stunned top seeds Kachchh 3–0, and Rajkot, who overcame second seeds Surat 3–1.

Meanwhile, in the Sub-Junior Girls (U-15) category, top seeds Surat will clash once again with second seeds Bhavnagar — a repeat of last year’s final — with Surat looking to avenge their 2024 defeat.

Championship supported by major associations

The Gujarat State and Inter-District Table Tennis Championships 2025 is being supported by the Sports Authority of Gujarat and co-sponsored by the Gandhidham Chamber of Commerce & Industries. The Kachchh District Table Tennis Association (KDTTA) is serving as the venue partner, while Stiga continues its association as the official equipment sponsor.

GSTTA officials expressed satisfaction over the quality of play and the enthusiastic response from participants across districts. The event, which runs till October 18, will also feature individual events after the team championships conclude.