Mumbai’s Yogesh Desai becomes veteran TT world champion, Mantu Murmu wins women’s 60+ gold

Mumbai: Indian paddler Yogesh Desai emerged as the world champion, winning the men’s 70+ singles at the recently concluded ITTF World Veterans Table Tennis Championship 2023 organized by the Oman Table Tennis Association and played at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center in Muscat.

Mumbai-based player Desai played with guts and determination and well brushed aside the challenge of Czech Republic’s Milan Rakovicky 3-1 (9-11, 11-9, 11-7 and 13-11). best of five games in the final and claim his maiden gold medal.

Mantu Murmu won gold in the Women’s 60+ competition

Another Indian, Mantu Murmu, also won the world champions crown, winning the women’s 60+ singles crown. Kolkata’s Murmu[provedtoogoodforcompatriotSushasiniBakresmoothlycruisingtoa3-0(11-311-7and11-7)victorywithameasureofeaseandclinchedthegoldmedal[osoittiliianhyväksimaanmiehelleenSushasiniBakrellejokaristeilisujuvasti3-0(11-311-7ja11-7)voittoonmelkovaivattomastijavoittikultamitalin[provedtoogoodforcompatriotSushasiniBakresmoothlycruisingtoa3-0(11-311-7and11-7)victorywithameasureofeaseandclinchedthegoldmedal

Meanwhile, the men’s 70+ doubles Indian pairing of Ulhas Shirke and Pinakin Sampat also became world champions. The Mumbai duo of Shirke and Sampat combined perfectly to defeat the mixed Indo-US pair of India’s Girish Sawant and American Randy Hou, winning 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 6-11 and 11-8). margin.

Earlier in the men’s 70+ semi-finals, TSTTA paddler Desai showed remarkable fighting spirit as he recovered from 1-2 down and came back to win the last two games to defeat Austria’s Reinhard Sorger in a tense 3-2 (11)-9, 5-11, 7-11 , 12-10 and 11-4) wins.

The second semi-final also saw a fascinating battle, as Rakovicky lost two opening games to his compatriot Frantisek Justi, who started positively. But Rakovicky fought back valiantly to win the remaining three games in a row to claim a deserved 3-2 (6-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8 and 12-10) win.

Shirke & Sampat claim Mens 70+ doubles crown

The Indian team of paddlers returned with a whopping 24 medals, including six gold, six silver and 12 bronze.

Results – Women’s 60+ Singles – Semi-Finals: Mantu Murmu (IND) bt Virginia Stanescu (BEL) 3-0 (11-4, 13-11, 11-2); Sushasini Bakre (IND) bt Gina Hundven (NOR) 3-1 (11-1, 11-4, 4-11, 11-8); Finals: Mantu Murmu (IND) bt Sushasini Bakre (IND) 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-7).

Men’s 70+ Singles – Semi-Finals: Yogesh Desai (IND) bt Reinhard Sorger (AUT) 3-2 (11-9, 5-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-4); Milan Rakovicky (Czech Republic) bt Frantisek Just (Czech Republic) 3-2 (6-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10); Final: Yogesh Desai (IND) bt Milan Rakovicky (CZE) 3-1 (9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 13-11).

Men’s 70+ Doubles Final: Ulhas Shirke (IND)/Pinakin Sampat (IND) bt Girish Sawant (IND)/Randy Hou (USA) 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8).

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