Koparkar, Patkar score upset wins to bag titles

Mumbai, Jun 18 (UNI) Aniket Koparkar and Madhurika Patkar scored upset wins to crown themselves men's and women's singles champions in the MCF-Maharashtra State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament, hosted by Mandpeshwar Civic Federation here.

Ironically, Koparkar, a top seed in the boys category, was beaten by Aman Balgu of Mumbai Suburban in the quarters. However, in the men's section, he had a dream run scalping third seeded Omkar Torgalkar in the quarters, second seeded Sanil Shetty in the semis and fourth seeded Eric Fernandes in the final to emerge as winner in the season's first state ranking tournament.

Thane's Madhurika Patkar seems to have special liking for the MCF tournaments. Way back in 2002, she had won the women's singles title and yesterday, she did one better, capturing the women's and youth girls singles titles.

In the women's final, she controlled the pace well and was more positive than her rival Mamta Prabhu. The way Prabhu thrashed her Thane rival Priti Mokashi in the semifinals, she was seen as a strong favourite for the title. But in the final, she was a bundle of nerves and committed errors galore, while Patkar varied the pace and attacked well.

The only top seed to justify his standing was Noel Pinto. In a thrilling junior boys singles final, he got the better of Nagpur's Viresh Rana 12-14, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9.

Results: Men's singles (semifinals): Eric Fernandes beat Nilay Basak 11-6, 12-10, 11-6, 8-11, 7-11, 12-14, 12-10; Aniket Koparkar bt Sanil Shetty 11-7, 5-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 13-11.

(Final): Aniket Koparkar bt Eric Fernandes 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-2, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6.

Women's singles (semifinals): Mamta Prabhu bt Priti Mokashi 11-6, 11-8,13-11, 8-11, 11-5; Madhurika Patkar bt Poona Sahastrabuddhe 6-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10.

(Final): Madhurika Patkar bt Mamta Prabhu 11-7, 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-7.

Youth Boys singles (semifinals): Aman Balgu bt Shlok Kamdar 12-10,11-7, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6; Sanil Shetty bt Omkar Torgalkar 11-4, 11-4, 11-7, 11-9.

(Final): Aman Balagu bt Sanil Shetty 10-12, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 11-9.

Youth Girls singles (semifinals): Madhurika Patkar bt Sukhada Kulkarni 11-8, 11-7, 4-11 11-9, 11-8; Shruti Talnikar bt Poona Sahastrabuddhe 11-8, 8-11, 11-7.

(Final): Madhurika Patkar bt Shruti Talnikar 11-8, 11-7, 4-11,11-9, 11-8.

Jr Boys singles (semifinals): Noel Pinto bt Akash Damli 7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5; Viresh Rana bt Devdatta Phadanvis 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 14-12.

(Final): Noel Pinto bt Viresh Rana 12-14, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5,9-11, 11-7, 11-9.

Jr Girls singles (semifinals): Mallika Bhandarkar bt Shruti Talnikar 7-11, 11-8, 16-14, 11-7, 9-11, 13-11; Pooja Sahastrabuddhe bt Vedika Garg 9-11. 11-7. 7-11, 11-9. 11-8. 11-6.

(Final): Pooja Sahastrabuddhe bt Mallika Bhandarkar 9-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-5, 10-12, 18-20, 11-3.

UNI