Dev Saini strikes it rich in Bhavan Vidyalaya Ranking TT

Chandigarh, July 15 (UNI) Dev Saini, a trainee of DAV Public School Coaching Centre, Sector 8, struck it rich by winning the boys Under-17, young boys Under-20 and men's singles in the Bhavan Vidyalaya State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament organised by Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27 under the aegis of the Chandigarh Table Tennis Association at the Sector 23 Table Tennis Hall here today.

Dev Saini, 15, stunned seasoned campaigner 40+ Harish Kumar of Accountant General Haryana in the final by 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 13-11 to emerge men's singles champion.

He was trailing 1-4 before rallying to make it four-all and nine-all. Hitting a backhand flick he made it 10-9 to gain the lead for the first time in the final and finished the game at 11-9.

Harish Kumar raced to a 6-2 lead and steadily increased it to 10-6 before winning at 11-6 to make it one-all. Dev Saini won the third game after taking a strong 9-3 lead. Saini won the fourth game by 11-8. Dev Saini relaxed a bit and committed some unforced errors as Harish won the fifth game at 11-9. The sixth game was a very close affairs. The score read 2-all, 4--all, 10-all, 11-11 before Dev Saini wrapped up the match by winning the fifth game at 13-11. He won the last point with a telling forehand.

Earlier, Dev Saini had beaten Parteek Gupta of DAV College, Sector 10 in the Young Boys Under-20 final by 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9. His first title in this edition of the state ranking tournament was the boys Under-17 final where he defeated Puneet Kumar of Delhi Public School-40 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9.

Despite gaining a 2-0 lead, seventh seed Meghna of Sacred Heart-21, surrendered the advantage to fifth seed Kalyani of Manav Mangal School of Sector 21 in the women's singles final. Kalyani who switched to an attacking after two games down, won by 8-11, 5-11, 14-12, 12-14, 11-7, 12-10.

Earlier in quarter-final, Sunanda of New Public School, Sector 18 had upset top seed Nadia Saini of SGGS College, Sector 26 11-7, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9. Nadia Saini had the consolation of winning the young girls Under-20 singles crown. In the final Nadia defeated Meghna Kakaria of Sacred Heart-26 by 11-9, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6.

Panjab University Vice Chancellor Prof R C Sobti distributed the prizes. Speaking on the occasion he assured that table tennis would be encouraged in the Panjab University colleges.

Men's singles: Semi-finals: Harish Kumar (AG Haryana) bt Vikas Sharma (AG Punjab) 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8, Dev Saini (DAVCC-8) bt Puneet Kumar (DPD-40) 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 13-11.

Final: Dev Saini (DAVCC-8) bt Harish Kumar (AG Haryana) 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 13-11.

Women's singles: Semi-finals: Kalyani (Manav Mangal-21) bt Sunanda Mahindra (NPS-18)14-16, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5, 6-11, 11-6, Meghna Kakaria (Sacred Heart-26) bt Naina Suri (DAVPS-8) 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9.

Final: Kalyani (Manav Mangal-21) bt Meghna Kakaria (Sacred Heart-26) 8-11, 5-11, 14-12, 12-14, 11-7, 12-10.

Young Girls U-20 singles: Semi-finals: Meghna (SH-26) bt Naini Suri (DAVPS-8) 11-8, 16-14, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, Nadia Sani (SGGS) bt Kalyani (MM-21) 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8.

Final: Nadia Sani (SGGS) 11-9, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6.

Young boys U-20 singles: Semi-finals: Dev Saini (DAVPSCC-8) bt Rajan Mahindra (DAVPS-8) 11-8, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9, Parteek Gupta (DAVC-10) bt Puneet Kumar (DPS-40) 11-8, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9.

Final: Dev Saini (DAVPSCC-8) bt Parteek Gupta (DAVC-10) 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9.

Girls singles (final): Sadhika Kaushal (GM-16) bt Garima Goyal (BV-27) 2-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7.

Boys singles (final): Dev Saini (DAVPSCC-8) bt Puneet Kumar (DPS-40) 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9.

UNI