WHEN the two boys from Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) met in the junior boys’ final of the Indian Oil 73rd Junior and Youth National Table Tennis Championships at the Municipal Corporation Stadium here on Sunday, the on-court rivalry was very much visible. But what clinched things in favour of left-hander Abhishek Yadav was the devil-may-care attitude as he beat Sudanshu Grover 4-2 (11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-3, 14-12) to win the title.

The girls crown went to Reeth Rishya, another from the PSPB stable, who had to muster all her experience and courage to beat Andhra Pradesh’s Karnam Spoorthy 4-3 (7-11, 11-7, 13-15, 11-4, 11-7, 12-14, 11-4).

Abhishek unleashed smashing forehands while employing his backhands carefully against Sudanshu, who was equal to the task with his booming returns. Abhishek was clever at time to engage Sudanshu in long rallies and go for the kill when time was conducive. When pushed to the corner with deep returns, Sudanshu found the going tough and that put paid to his ambitions.

But since the two come from the same academy, there was camaraderie when the two instead of a warm hand-shake preferred to embrace each other. There was also a nice little pat from Sudanshu on the back of Abhishek in appreciation.

The match between Reeth and Spoorthy had all the thrills of a final which Reeth won 4-3 amidst fluctuating fortunes when points changed hands as quickly as the two returned the ball to their opponent’s court. In the end, a nervous Spoorthy wilted under pressure after a fine recovery in the sixth game which she won 14-12 to level 3-3. But having to play the youth girls’ doubles final earlier, Spoorthy was definitely lacking in stamina while Reeth was fresh which stood her in good stead.