World Veterans TT: Yogesh Desai claims gold in 70+, Mantu Murmu wins women’s 60+ crown

Mumbai, Jan 30 : Indian paddler Yogesh Desai emerged as the World Champion, winning the mens 70+ singles title in the recently-concluded ITTF World Veterans Table Tennis Championship 2023, in Muscat, Oman.

The Indian contingent returned from Oman with a rich haul of 24 medals, including six gold, six silver and 12 bronze medals.

The Mumbai-based player Desai played with plenty of grit and determination and did well to brush aside the challenge from Czech Republics Milan Rakovicky storming to a 3-1 (9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 13-11) in the best-of-five-game final and claim his maiden gold medal in the event organised by the Oman Table Tennis Association and played at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.Another Indian Mantu Murmu also won the World Champions crown winning the Womens 60+ singles crown.

The Kolkata-based Murmu proved too good for compatriot Suhasini Bakre smoothly cruising to a 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, and 11-7) victory with a measure of ease and clinched the gold medal.Meanwhile, India also won the Mens 70+ doubles title with the pairing of Ulhas Shirke and Pinakin Sampat winning the final.

The Mumbai duo of Shirke and Sampat combined perfectly to outplay the mixed Indo-USA pair of Girish Sawant and Randy Hou, winning by a 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 6-11, and 11-8) margin.Earlier, in the Mens 70+ semifinals, Desai showed remarkable fighting spirit as he recovered after trailing 1-2 to come back by winning the last two games to overcome Austrias Reinhard Sorger by snatching a tense 3-2 (11-9, 5-11, 7-11, 12-10, and 11-4) win.The other semifinal also witnessed an engrossing battle as Rakovicky lost the opening two games against compatriot Frantisek Just, who made a positive start.But Rakovicky gallantly fought back to win the remaining three games in succession to clinch a deserving 3-2 (6-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, and 12-10) win.Results:Womens 60+ singles (semis): 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).Mens 70+ singles (semis): Yogesh Desai (IND) bt Reinhard Sorger (AUT) 3-2 (11-9, 5-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-4); Milan Rakovicky (CZE) bt Frantisek Just (Cze) 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).Mens 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) #Veterans #Yogesh #Desai #gold #Mantu #Murmu #Telugu #TeluguStop #Mumbai #Suhasini #Jan #Mumbai #USA #Vicky.