by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Arguably the three-one win over Thailand’s Yanapong Panagitun and Singapore’s Pang Yew En Koen was much closer than the eventual score-line suggested.

In the opening match of the fixture Jeet Chandra experienced defeat at the hands of Yanapong Panagitgun (5-11, 11-7, 11-2, 6-11, 11-2). Manav Vikash Thakkar levelled matters by overcoming Pang Yew En Koen (11-6, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7), before in the doubles in harness with Manush Utpalbhai Shah being on the very precipice of defeat in the third game.

A recovery was mounted, the match was secured in five games (7-11, 3-11, 17-15, 11-8, 11-4), Manav Vikash Thakkar duly returned to the table, he beat Yanapong Panagitun in three straight games (11-8, 11-7, 11-2) to seal the victory.

However what if the doubles had gone the other way? Jeet Chandra versus Pang Yew Koen in the deciding match; take your pick as to the name of the victor.

Manav Vikash Thakkar, the backbone of victory in the penultimate round; it was the same in the final.

He beat both Parth Virmani 11-7, 11-5, 11-8) and Snehit Suravajjula (11-8, 11-4, 11-8), whilst partnering Manush Utpalbhai Shah to doubles success against Snehit Suravajjula and Anukran Jain (11-4, 11-2, 11-8) in a three-one success against India ‘B’. The one win for the defeated was secured by Snehit Suravajjula; in the opening match of the fixture, he accounted for Jeet Chandra (11-8, 11-4, 11-3).

In the counterpart semi-final, Anukran Jain, Snehit Suravajjula and Parth Virmani had recorded a three-nil win in opposition to the India ‘D’ outfit comprising Hardik Khurana, Soham Bhattacharga and Kaushal Bhatt.

Success for India ‘A’ against India ‘B’ in the final of the Junior Boys’ Team event; it was the same in the Cadet Boys’ Team title decider.

The combination of Himnakulpuingheta Jeho, Payas Jain and Chinmaya Somaiya overcame the formation of Jayabrata Bhattacharjee and Dev Shroff by three matches to nil to secure the top prize.