PSPB begins with a bang in Senior National TT

Kolkata, Jan 17 (PTI) Defending champions PetroleumSports Promotion Board (PSPB) justified their top billing byentering the pre-quarterfinals in both the men''s and thewomen''s sections in the 72nd Senior National and Inter-StateTable Tennis Championship here today.

Hosts West Bengal, North Bengal and Maharashtra also madeit to the last-16 by topping their respective groups in thewomen''s section at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.

In their first rubber, PSPB team consisting K Shamini,Madhurika Patkar and Pooja Sahastrabudhe beat their opponentsfrom Chandigarh 3-0 to open their group A campaign with aflier.

Then Shamini teamed up with Mouma Das and DivyaDeshpande in their second and last group league fixture, tothrash Chhattisgarh 3-0 to seal their place in thepre-quarters.

Maharashtra A won comfortably against Rajasthan andMadhya Pradesh with an identical 3-0 scoreline in both therounds en route to the last 16 from group B.

In group C, hosts West Bengal routed Maharashtra B andHimachal Pradesh 3-0 in both the rounds to make the nextstage.

North Bengal qualified from group D beating Jharkhand(3-0) and Haryana (3-0).

In the men''s section, PSPB beat Andhra Pradesh and Orissain their two rounds to ensure a last 16 berth. .