Indore, Dec 30 (.) Drawing on composure as much as craft, Harmeet Desai of the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board edged past SFR Snehit of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department in a gripping seven-game final to lift the men’s singles title at the AAI 52nd Institutional Table Tennis Championships at Abhay Prashal on Tuesday.
Harmeet surged to a 2–0 lead and stood on the brink of victory at 10–6 in the sixth game, only for Snehit to force a dramatic turnaround and steal it 16–14. Unfazed, Harmeet leaned on his experience to regain control, sealing the contest in the decider after a see-saw battle that ended 11-9, 11-9, 2-11, 8-11, 11-5, 14-16, 11-5.
Harmeet later combined with Yashaswini Ghorpade to beat the Railways pair of Preyesh Raj and Sampada Bhiwandkar to add another title in the mixed doubles, winning the final 3-0.
In the women’s singles final, Sayali Wani capped off the championships in style, producing a composed and authoritative performance to clinch the title. Her triumph rounded off a memorable tournament, underlining the depth and competitiveness on display across both singles events.
Sayali Wani continued her rapid ascent on the domestic circuit with a sequence of high-pressure performances that underlined her growing stature as a clutch competitor. At last year’s Inter-Institutional Championships in Chandigarh, Sayali played a pivotal role in the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board’s women’s team campaign.
In the semifinals against the Reserve Bank of India, she was entrusted with the decisive fifth rubber, a clear indication of the faith placed in her temperament, and delivered under pressure, overcoming Diya Chitale to propel PSPB into the final and eventually the team title.
The youngster followed that up with an even more telling statement in the women’s singles final on Tuesday. Trailing 0–2 against fellow PSPB paddler Syndrela Das, she showed remarkable composure and tactical clarity to turn the match on its head. Raising her intensity and tightening her control, Sayali reeled off four straight games to seal a memorable 4–2 victory.
The comeback, marked by increasing dominance as the match progressed, stands out as one of the most significant achievements of her young career. More than the title itself, it was Sayali’s calm handling of crunch situations, in both team and individual events, that caught the eye, reinforcing her reputation as a player who thrives when the stakes are highest.
The singles semifinals delivered high drama, with SFR Snehit holding firm to upset top seed Manav Thakkar of PSPB in a fluctuating six-game battle, sealing the match with a composed finish in the decider.
Harmeet, meanwhile, showed grit and endurance to outlast second-seed Manush Shah of RBI in a marathon encounter, closing out a tense final game in extended play.
In the women’s semifinals, Syndrela produced a controlled display to sweep past Swastika Ghosh of PSPB in straight games, and Sayali Wani advanced after Sutirtha Mukherjee of RSPB conceded due to a shoulder strain, with Sayali already firmly in command of the match.
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