Sharath Kamal beats Sathiyan, wins 10th senior national title

Sharath Kamal bagged his 10th National title with an impressive 4-3 win over arch rival G. Sathiyan in the men's final of the Senior National table tennis championships.

Sharath Kamal of PSPB celebrates after becoming the men's champion in the 83rd Senior National Table Tennis championship.

It was the turn of the star veteran and a newbie to bag the National crown in the Senior National table tennis championships here on Monday.

PSPB’s Sharath Kamal bagged his 10th title and Akula Sreeja of RBI won her maiden crown, defeating G. Sathiyan (PSPB) and Mouma Das (PSPB) in the men’s and women’s finals, respectively.
   
After overcoming Sathiyan 7-11, 12-10, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-6, Sharath quickly congratulated one and all and ran halfway around the stadium, and was congratulated by a few officials and the entire crowd rose in unison to cheer the champion.

Sreeja’s 11-8, 11-13, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6 victory over five-time champion Mouma Das proved that she has overcome the shackles and fear of Nationals in all categories and has now come of her own.

Speaking to Sportstar , Sharath said: “Winning the 10th title is like reaching Mount Everest. I am sure someone will beat my record as records are meant to be broken.”

The 23-year-old Sreeja said: “I have always not done well in all the Nationals across age categories. This time I was focussed and was prepared for long pushes of Mouma and did what my coach (Somnath Ghosh) suggested."

A special award in memory of the late paddler D. Vishwa was given to 19-year-old Diya Chitale of Maharashtra. Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, gave away the prizes.

Meanwhile, Gita Mittal, Chairperson of Committee of Administrators, announced that the National junior & youth championships would be held in Alappuzha from June 17 to 23.

The results (finals):

Men: singles: Sharath Kamal (PSPB) bt G. Sathiyan (PSPB) 7-11, 12-10, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-6; doubles: Sourav Saha & Do Rosario Wesley (Har) bt Soumyajit Ghosh & Jubin Kumar (Har) 11-5, 4-11,11-9, 7-11, 11-8.
Women: singles: Akula Sreeja (RBI) bt Mouma Das (PSPB) 11-8, 11-13, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6; doubles: Akula Sreeja & Ayhika Mukherjee (RBI) bt Prapti Sen & Takeme Sarkar (RBI) 3-11, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10.
Mixed doubles: Akash Pal & Prapti Sen (RSPB) bt Soumyajit Ghosh & Suhana Saini (Har) 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7.