Pinto, Senhora clinch Axis Bank MSL title for Blazing Bashers
Noel Pinto and Senhora D’Souza guided Blazing Bashers to a thrilling victory in the grand finale of the Axis Bank Mumbai Table Tennis Super League at National Sports Club of India (NSCI).
Senhora began the title march against Ace in the Women’s Singles, beating Ashlesha Trehan in a marathon clash. She eventually prevailed 2-1 but Ashlesha put up a valiant fight, stretching Senhora in each of the games and winning one of them too.
Noel made the most of the great start to thrash Nishant Kulkarni 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-7) in the Men’s Singles to get the Blazers going.
Deepit Patil brought Ace back into the contest with a smart 2-1 victory over Maanav Mehta. Blazer’s Maanav, however, did well to win the third game 12-10, after losing the contest 7-11, 2-11 to give his team a crucial point.
Noel & Senhora then joined hands to overcome the pair of Nishant & Ashlesha 2-1 (11-9, 10-12, 11-7) in the Mixed Doubles to hang on to the lead.
Mihika Rohira kept up Blazers’ winning momentum, outsmarting the in-form Kheya Shah 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 14-12) in the Junior Girls Singles.
Ace roared back into the final, claiming the next two matches. Tanmay Rao thumped Aaryan Deshpande 3-0 in the Cadet Boys Singles while Abhay Mehta & Nishant Kulkarni took the Doubles V/M 2-1 to keep themselves alive.
Maanav Mehta & Mihika Rohira, however, doused their hopes by winning the penultimate fixture, the Mixed JB/JG, overcoming Deepit Patil & Kheya Shah 2-1 (11-7, 7-11, 12-10) in a nail-biting clash.
RESULTS:
Blazing Bashers bt Ace 14-10
Women Singles: Senhora D’Souza bt Ashlesha Trehan 2-1 (12-10, 15-17, 12-10)
Men Singles: Noel Pinto bt Nishant Kulkarni 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-7)
Junior Boys: Maanav Mehta lost to Deepit Patil 1-2 (7-11, 2-11, 12-10)
Mixed Doubles: Noel Pinto & Senhora D’Souza bt Nishant Kulkarni & Ashlesha Trehan 2-1 (11-9, 10-12, 11-7)
Junior Girls: Mihika Rohira bt Kheya Shah 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 14-12)
Cadet Boys: Aaryan Deshpande lost to Tanmay Rao 0-3 (7-11, 6-11, 9-11)
Doubles V/M: Sunil Kelkar & Noel Pinto lost to Abhay Mehta & Nishant Kulkarni 1-2 (11-7, 9-11, 7-11)
Mixed JB/JG: Maanav Mehta & Mihika Rohira bt Deepit Patil & Kheya Shah 2-1 (11-7, 7-11, 12-10)