PSPB win men's title, end runners-up in women ch'ship

The Delhi women team outplayed PSPB 3-1 to win its maiden team title at the national championship.

In the men's team category, PSPB blanked West Bengal 3-0 to win the Barna-Bellack Cup for the eleventh consecutive time.

PSPB made it easy for Delhi by not fielding their number one paddler Poulami Ghatak. Instead, they opened with Pooja Sahasrabudhe and Ankita Das, who lost to Delhi's Manika Batra and Neha Aggarwal respectively to hand Delhi a 2-0 cushion.

PSPB's number two K Shamini, however, pulled one back for her side. But Ankita surrendered meekly to Manika (15-13, 11-8, 11-2) to give Delhi its first title.

In the men's team category, PSPB top paddler Soumyajit Ghosh opened his team's accounted by comprehensively beating WB's Sourav Saha 12-10, 11-5, 11-8.

Defending singles champion A Amalraj then gave his aide a 2-0 lead by beating Sougatha Sarkar. Experienced Soumyadeep Roy completed the formalities in the third game against Souvik Kar.

Results (Team finals):

Men: PSPB bt West Bengal 3-0 (Soumyajit Ghosh bt Sourav Saha 12-10, 11-5, 11-8; A. Amalraj bt Sougatha Sarkar 11-5, 11-9, 11-5; Soumyadeep Roy bt Souvik Kar 11-3, 11-4, 5-11, 11-4.

Women: Delhi bt PSPB 3-1 (Manika Batra bt Pooja Sahasrabudhe 4-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-9; Neha Aggarwal bt Ankita Das 11-13, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9; Riti Shankar lost to K. Shamini 6-11, 6-11, 11-13; Manika Batra bt Ankita Das 15-13, 11-8, 11-2.