Deepak in semifinal

CHANIDGARH, March 17: Top-seeded Deepak Thukral of Dena Bank and second seeded Souvik Dey of United Bank of India were true to their bill...

CHANIDGARH, March 17: Top-seeded Deepak Thukral of Dena Bank and second seeded Souvik Dey of United Bank of India were true to their billings and moved into the semifinal of the men8217;s singles event on the penultimate day of the All India Inter-Bank table tennis tournament, which is being played at Sector 23 Indoor Table Tennis Hall. In the women section, Rinku Acharya DB and Arul Selvi Indian Bank entered the final.

Agile and swift Deepak got the better of PG Kellar of Bank of India 21-10, 21-15, 21-14, in the pre-quarterfinal while breezed past Ganesh Ahuja BOI 21-10, 21-15, 21-14, in the quarterfinal match today.

Souvik Dey also faced no opposition on his way to the last four stage of the meet. He outplayed Anil Sen Union Bank of India 21-13, 21-9, 21-11, in the pre-quarterfinal while his quarterfinal victim was CR Anand Union Bank of India, whom he defeated in straight games 21-14, 21-8, 21-16.

However, fourth seeded Vineet Chopra State Bank of Patiala crashed out of the meet. He lost to Jignesh Jaiswal of State Bank of Saurashtra 16-21, 19-21, 19-21, in the pre-quarterfinal.

The contests in the women8217;s group were, however, closely fought. Rinku DB had to rely on her experience to overcome a spirited Seema Gargi SBI 21-16, 18-21, 21-15, 21-17, to face Arul Selvi IB in the final, who defeated Sushmita Roy DB 21-14, 19-21, 21-18, 19-21, 21-13, in another pulsating semifinal encounter.

The semifinals will be played in the morning session while the finals in both men8217;s and women8217;s group is slated in the evening.

Results
Men singles: Pre-quarterfinal: Deepak Thukral DB bt PG Kellar BOI 21-10, 21-15, 21-14; Ganesh Ahuja BOI bt J Salva Kumar IB 21-15, 18-21, 21-18, 21-9; Rajdeep Sarkar DB bt V Vasu IB 21-12, 21-15, 21-16; Jignesh Jaiswal SBS bt Vineet Chopra SBP 21-16, 21-19, 21-19; Sunil Babras DB bt TS Ram Kumar CB 21-13, 21-11; 21-17; Mukul Bora RBI bt J Acharya BOI 21-15, 21-10, 20-22, 21-16; Souvik Dey United bt Anil Sen UBI 21-13, 21-9, 21-11. Quarterfinals: Deepak Thukral DB bt Ganesh Ahuja BOI 21-10, 21-15, 21-14; Rajdeep Sarkar DB bt J Jaiswal SBS 15-21, 21-19, 21-19, 21-12; Souvik Dey United bt CR Anand UBI 21-14, 21-8, 21-16; Sunil Babras DB bt Mukul Bora RBI 21-19, 11-21, 21-19, 21-13.

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Women singles: Quarterfinals: Arul Selvi IB bt Antima Mittal SBI 21-18, 21-14, 21-7; Sushmita Roy DB bt Suchitra Narkar UBI 21-16, 21-12, 21-17; Rinku Acharya DB bt Nandni Kawale BOI 15-21, 21-9, 21-16, 21-15; Seema Gargi SBI bt Pallavi Hari UBI 24-22, 21-11, 21-15. Semifinals: Rinku Acharya DB bt Seema Gargi SBI 21-16, 18-21, 21-15, 21-17; Arul Selvi IB bt Sushmita Roy DB 21-14, 19-21, 21-18, 19-21, 21-13.