Chandigarh, December 22: Qualifier Ananya Barady of Pondicherry defeated Reshita Dey of North Bengal 3-2 in a comeback first-round match to enter the Cadet Girls’ round of 32 in the 80th Cadet and Sub-Junior National Table Tennis Championships at the Basketball Hall of Sector 42 Sports Complex here today.

The Pondicherry girl, who trailed 1-2, after giving herself a good start did well to win 11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8 11-6.

In another match Fiona Christin Dass from Tamil Nadu, despite being 2-1 up, was given a good fight in the first round by Dohadavathi Nalluru of Andhra who proved gritty. But her resistance ended when Fiona won the match 3-2. But for these two matches, most of the qualifiers didn’t have to sweat it out much and went through the motions to move ahead.

Ananya began well against Reshita for a bright start. But the North Bengal girl was up to the task and took the next two games with much to spare. However, the Pondicherry girl responded equally well taking the next game to level the score.

And in the decider, the latter played truly well, forcing the North Bengal into unforced errors as she was unable to keep the ball on table. Increasing the tempo, after having a 3-1 lead in the decider, Ananya upped the ante and won comfortably in the end.    

Fiona, on the other hand, was leading 2-1 and looked to be sailing smoothly until the Andhra girl launched herself seize the imitative after deuce and saving a match point to win the fourth game on extended point. Yet, the Tamil Nadu girl played brilliantly in the final game and using the flanks well stopped the Andhra girl way short for 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-3 score.

There were some 3-1 results achieved by a few qualifiers but mostly the first-round matches had turned out to be one-sided with the favourites moving into the next round. But all of them can expect a very tough round as the eight seeded players, after first-round byes, resume battle for the crown.

With two rounds each yet to be played in all sections—matches in Cadet Boys, Sub-Junior Boys and Girls are underway—the results at the end the penultimate day of the championships will determined who all move into the pre-quarterfinals.

On the last day of the championships tomorrow, three rounds, including the finals, will be played.