Double for Thakkar; Manika, Sreeja win thrillers

After beating Ronit Bhanja in the youth boys final, Manav ended the dream run of a fighting S. Snehit 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4 to defend the men’s singles title

Manav Thakkar won the men and youth titles in the National ranking table tennis championship.

Manav Thakkar reinforced the growing belief of being the next big thing in Indian table tennis. The rising star, a member of country’s squad for the upcoming Asian Games, won the men and youth titles in the National ranking table tennis championship on Tuesday.

After beating Ronit Bhanja in the youth boys final, Manav ended the dream run of a fighting Telangana boy S. Snehit 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4 to defend the men’s singles title, worth Rs 70,000.

Snehit received a cash prize of Rs. 35,000.

Earlier, Manika Batra crossed the first major hurdle in domestic circuit this season when she saved three match points to stop Krittwika Sinha Roy in a seven set women final.

After the players won alternate sets leading to an enthralling decider, the Commonwealth Games champion was down 9-10, 10-11, 11-12 but fought back gamely to convert her second match-point for a 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 8-11, 14-12 triumph.

Manika collected Rs. 60,000 and Krittwika, Rs. 30,000.

The youth girls’ title went to Akula Sreeja who had to bring out her best to beat a determined S. Selenadeepthi in six close sets.