Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Ritvik Gupta has made Jammu and Kashmir proud by clinching the Youth Boys Under-15 singles title at the 86th UTT Cadet and Sub-Junior National Table Tennis Championships, held at Abhay Prashal Indoor Hall, Nagpur. In a thrilling final, Ritvik defeated Aditya Das from West Bengal with a scoreline of 11-4, 5-11, 11-9, 14-16 and 11-4 to secure the coveted title.
Ritvik’s victory came after a challenging journey in the tournament. Though his team fell short in the pre-quarterfinals of the team championship earlier in the competition, Ritvik displayed unwavering resilience in the singles event. The final match was an intense battle, especially after Ritvik initially led 10-6 in the fourth game but lost multiple match points. Aditya capitalized on this, winning the fourth game to bring the match to a decider. However, Ritvik regained his composure and took control in the final game, leading 5-3 at the change of ends. With Aditya faltering under pressure, Ritvik capitalized on unforced errors, including several mistakes on the backhand, and sealed the match to secure the title.
Ritvik expressed his gratitude, saying, “This championship win is a dream come true. I am incredibly thankful for the support of the J&K Table Tennis Association, my coaches, family, and friends who have always believed in me.”
Ajay Sharma, senior table tennis player and representative of the J&K Table Tennis Association, praised Ritvik’s victory, calling it a significant milestone in his journey. “Ritvik’s hard work and infinite practice hours have paid off. His victory is a new chapter in J&K’s table tennis history, supported by the efforts of Sarmad Hafeez, Commissioner Secretary Youth Services & Sports and Nuzhat Gul, Secretary J&K Sports Council,” he said.
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