Alappuzha, February 21: Delhi defeated West Bengal 3-1 to lift the Youth Girls Under-15 title in the UTT 84th Inter-State Sub-Junior and Cadet Championships at N.C. John Memorial Hall of YMCA, here today.

Avisha Karmarkar drove the final nail after the Delhi pair lost its doubles to the West Bengal duo in a thriller. The Delhi girl, holding five championship points, dropped one but held on when Nandini Saha's weak push went out.

West Bengal lost their grip on the final, even before the Nandini-Syndrela Das combine beat Delhi's scratch pair of Vanshika Mudgal and Avisha 3-2. Everything started with Avisha accounting for Syndrela in the opening tie.

Avisha was guilty of rushing with her shots and must have learnt her lessons when 1-2 down. She gained momentum in the stretched fourth game and continued it to put Delhi 1-0 ahead. Consolidating the position, a composed Sayanika Maji decimated Nandini Saha 3-0 before the two West Bengal girls brought some sanity to the doubles. 

Delhi, who lost in the quarterfinals of the Dharamsala Nationals, did well with two principal players in Sayanika and Avisha, both imports. Despite having two good players in Syndrela and Nandini, both could not figure out the defensive Sayanika, leading to the downfall of West Bengal, who made it to the medal rounds the last time. 

The semi-final between Delhi and Maharashtra was at the knife's edge when Avisha Karmakar of Delhi spoiled the party after leading 6-3 and 9-8 in the decisive fifth game against Jennifer Varghese in their reverse singles. Jennifer inched her way slowly and gained control after levelling the score 9-9. A despondent Avisha threw the match away, putting Delhi in a tricky situation as Maharashtra pulled level 2-2 to give their team a realistic chance.

But Sayanika Maji knew what she exactly had to do under the circumstances. The defensive player cut and chopped her way, posing enormous problems for Ikshika Umate to go 1-0 up quickly. The break between games did some wonders as the Maharashtra girl, playing close to the table, adjusted to the pace of the returns from Sayanika and killed at the first opportunity to level 1-1.

But the cool Sayanika changed her strategy and indulged in what she does best, confusing her opponent with her chops and deep service. Unable to pick the right ball to hit, Ikshika mostly sent the ball out as the Delhi girl led 2-1. By that time, desperation had set in, and Ikshika was unable to find the answers to her rival's variations and threw in the towel earlier than one expected.

Earlier, Delhi comfortably led 2-0, and no one would have given a grain of chance to Maharashtra's pair of Bhoota Raina and Divyanshi Bhowmick to put up a stout defence. But the two, particularly the left-handed Bhoota, gauged the situation and, with a cool head, guided partner Divyanshi to win the doubles in straight games. Her deft placements and excellent service fetched Maharashtra several points, and Avisha and Sayanika could not stem the flow.

In contrast, the second semi-final was one-sided. West Bengal dominated from start to finish as Syndrella Das put them ahead in the first tie against M. Hansini. Nandini Saha was equally adept to the conditions, and Sharvani Nagam's resistance in the first two games proved cosmetic. With a 2-0 cushion, Syndrela and Nandini ended Tamil Nadu's ordeal, beating Nandini Reena Balaji and Hansini 3-0.

TANISHKA CROWNED

The promising Tanishka Kalabhairav from Karnataka bagged the Under-11 Girls' title after beating West Bengal's Saturya Banerjee 3-1 in the final last evening. A National title in her category has been the result of her consistency.

Taniksha did drop a game after leading 2-0, but the mild threat from Saturya in the third game was a deterrent to shake her determination. Not afraid to attack, the little girl from Karnataka rattled the West Bengal paddler in the fourth, allowing just a solitary point to her rival.  

Team Results (Youth Girls U-15): Final: Delhi bt West Bengal 3-1 (Avisha Karmakar bt. Synadrela Das 11-4, 11-13, 5-11, 12-10, 11-9, Sayanika Maji bt Nandini Saha 11-6, 11-3, 11-4, Avisha/Vanshika Mudgal lost to Nandini/Syndrela 6-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11, Avisha Karmakar bt Nandini Saha 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6).

Semi-finals: Delhi bt Maharashtra 3-2 (Sayanika Maji bt Jennifer Varghese 11-8, 11-8, 11-7, Avisha Karmakar bt Ikshika Umate 11-7, 11-5, 11-8, Sayanika/Avisha lost to Bhoota Raina/Divyanshi Bhowmick 8-11, 9-11, 5-11, Avisha Karmakar lost to Jennifer Varghese 11-7, 7-11, 8-11, 13-11, 9-11, Sayanika Maji bt Ikshika Umate 11-3, 7-11, 11-2, 11-5); West Bengal bt Tamil Nadu 3-0 (Syndrela Das bt M. Hansini 11-7, 11-3, 11-9, Nandini Saha bt Sharvani Nagam 11-7, 11-9, 11-2, Nandini/Syndrella bt Nandini Reena Balaji/Hansini 11-7 12-10, 11-5).

Youth Girls U-11 Singles: Final: Tanishka Kalabhairav (Kar) bt Saturya Banerjee (WB) 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 11-1.

Semi-finals: Saturya Banerjee bt Daniya Godil (Guj) 11-8, 11-9, 15-17, 11-4; Tanishka Kalabhairav bt Shariqa Shahid (WB) 13-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5.