All the top seeds in women's singles category advanced to the second round of the National Ranking (East Zone) Table Tennis Championships at the Municipal Stadium here today.
As expected, the qualifiers had to bear the brunt of their fancied opponents in the main draw of the women's singles in their first round matches.
Women's singles match between veteran and sixth seed Anandita Chakraborty and youngster Ayhika Mukerjee went down to the wire with the experienced paddler prevailing over her opponent 4-3. Qualifier Ayhika lost 16-14 16-18 11-3 9-11 5-11 11-8 8-11.
Nikhat Banu went down fighting to Tekme Starkar 11-7 11-7 9-11 7-11 5-11 11-9 8-11, while Madhurika Patkar recovered well in time to beat Prajakta Tipale of LIC 11-5 6-11 9-11 11-9 9-11 11-1 11-4.
In other matches, Krittwika Sinha Roy of Airports Authority of India got the better of Shreya Ghosh of Railway Sports Promotion Board 4-2 (11-7 8-11 11-9 11-9 8-11 11-6).
However, to the credit of the Railways girl, who did not give up even after her AAI rival went 3-1 up, showing her character.
The AAI paddler has a tough job in the second round as she will face top-seed and national champion K Shamini.
It was curtains for Nikita Ghosh from the host association as Divya Deshpande (PSPB) beat her in straight games of 11-5 11-6 11-8 11-8.
However, Sayani Bose, also from North Bengal, went down fighting to Soumi Mondal of PSPB 2-4 (11-8, 5-11, 4-11, 11-7, 8-11, 7-11). Tanaya Dutta too lost to Mouma Das rather poorly (3-11, 2-11, 6-11, 3-11).
Another PSPB's Manika Batra dropped two games before sewing it up against Dena Bank's Frenaz Chipia 4-2. Manika will take on Poulomi Ghatak next in the second round.
The former national champion had an easy match against Railways Anushree Hazre. Second-seeded Pooja Sahesrabudhe outwitted old warhorse N Arul Selvi, a qualifier from Dena Bank.
