Tanishka and Prateek win U-15 championships at the National Ranking event.

The UTT National Ranking Table Tennis tournament kicked off with an exciting display of talent at The Sportz Hub on Thursday, as Tanishka Kalbhairav from Karnataka and Prateek Tulsani from Maharashtra clinched the under-15 girls’ and boys’ titles, respectively. Both players showcased remarkable skill and determination, setting a positive tone for the new season.

In a gripping final match, 14-year-old Tanishka faced off against Saturya Banerjee from West Bengal. After a challenging start, where she found herself trailing 1-2 in games, Tanishka mounted a fierce comeback. Saturya's powerful backhand topspins initially posed a significant challenge, but Tanishka adjusted her strategy, delivering a series of impressive forehand winners. Ultimately, she secured victory with a scoreline of 9-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, earning a winner’s prize of ₹22,400.

Meanwhile, Prateek Tulsani, who had a less than stellar previous season, demonstrated his prowess by defeating West Bengal’s Rajdeep Biswas in straight games, with scores of 11-6, 11-9, and 11-9. Rajdeep, who had reached the semifinals in the under-13 category just a day prior, struggled to cope with Prateek’s aggressive play. This victory not only marked a triumphant return for Prateek but also highlighted his potential as he transitions into the under-15 category after being crowned the National under-13 champion in 2024.

The semifinals leading up to the finals were equally competitive. Tanishka advanced by defeating Shariqa Shahid from West Bengal with a score of 11-5, 11-9, 13-11, while Saturya secured her place in the final by overcoming B. Varnica from Tamil Nadu in a closely contested match, finishing 13-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8. In the boys’ category, Prateek triumphed over Rishaan Chattopadhyay from West Bengal with a score of 13-11, 11-8, 11-6, and Rajdeep edged past Trijal Vohra from Punjab in a nail-biting five-game match, winning 14-12, 13-11, 7-11, 6-11, 13-11.