ISLAMABAD: Keeping their regional supremacy alive, Indian players topped the medals table of the South Asian Cadet and Junior Table Tennis Championships, which concluded at the Pakistan Sports Complex here on Friday.

India clinched 10 gold and four silver medals followed by Sri Lanka which won four silver and eight bronze medals.

The Indian players displayed sterling performance, particularly, when they played against each other in final matches, receiving huge appreciation from spectators.

In the final of junior singles, two Indian players — Lalrnpuna and Ukarsh Gupta —showed quality game and gave each other tough time.

After a close contest, Lalrnpuna won 4-1, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 and 11-8.

While, in the final of junior girls singles, India’s Ayhika and Priyadarshini Das played quality game.

Host Pakistan grabbed third position by clinching two silver and four bronze medals.

Nepal was fourth with six bronze while Bangladesh was fifth with two bronze medals.

Maldives failed to win any medal.

Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination Mian Riaz Hussain Prizada was the chief guest at the closing ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, he said: “Government is firm to bring international sports in the country. This tournament will prove to be the harbinger of new era in sports and other countries will feel confident in sending their contingents to Pakistan.”

The Pakistan Table Tennis Federations backed by Asian Table Tennis Union and Pakistan Sports Board organised the event as part of Pakistan’s independence celebration celebrations.

President of the Pakistan Table Tennis Federation S.M. Sibtain appreciated the efforts of the government for extending help for making the event successful.

The minister distributed prizes among the winners.

Results:

Junior boys singles (final): Lalrin Puia (India) bt Utkarsh Gupta (India) 4-1 (9-11, 11-5 , 11-6, 11-8, 11-8).

Junior girls singles (final): Ayhika (India) bt Priyadarshini Das (India) 4-3 (8-11, 6-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5).

Cadet boys singles (final): Manav Takkar (India) bt F.R. Snehit (India) 3-1 (15-17, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5).

Cadet girls singles (final): Naina (India) bt Shruti Amrute (India) 3-2 (11-6, 10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 14-12).

Junior boys singles (semi-finals): Lalrin Puia (India) bt Parshad De Silva (Sri Lanka) 4-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-4, 11-5); Utkarsh Gupta (India) bt Salman Virk (Pakistan) 4-1 (11-1, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7).

Junior girls singles (semi-finals): Priyadarshini Das (India) bt Muthumali (Sri Lanka) 4-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9); Ayhika (India) bt Runini (Sri Lanka) 4-1 (11-7, 10-12, 11-5, 11-8, 13-11).

Cadet boys singles (semi-finals): F R Snehit (India) bt Mohammad Imran (Bangladesh) 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-7); Manav Takkar (India) bt Dinhanka (Sri Lanka) 3-0 (14-12, 11-9, 11-6).

Cadet girls singles (semi-finals): Naina (India) bt Sheshala (Sri Lanka) 3-0 (11-1, 11-4, 11-6); Shruti Amrute (India) bt Hansani Pirmila (Sri Lanka) 3-0 (11-1, 11-5, 11-8).

Junior boys singles (quarter-finals): Lalrin Pua (India) bt Supuna Poornima (Sri Lanka) 4-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-4, 11-5); Salman Virk (Pakistan) bt Imran Hussain (Bangladesh) 4-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-6, 11-8); Utkarsh Gupta (India) bt Rameez Khan (Pakistan) 4-0 (11-7, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5); Parshad De Silva (Sri Lanka) bt Mani K. Lama (Nepal) 4-2 (11-6, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6).

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2014