Kolkata, August 22: Reigning champions Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) had little difficulty in putting it across their group opponents in all four categories—men, women, Youth boys and Youth girls—to move into the next stage of the All-India Inter-Institutional Table Tennis Championships here at the Khudiram Indoor Stadium today.

Similarly, other group leaders in men’s section Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), Airport Authority of India (AAI), Central Revenue Sports Board (CRSB) and Food Corporation of India sailed into the next round even as Group F leader Dena Bank suffered two successive losses to bow out in the first round.

Dena Bank first lost 1-3 to Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and then to Indian Audit and Accounts Department 0-3. Placed in the four-team group, the bank men have to go through the formality of playing a match against Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited later in the day.

As for the real upset in team events, the thrill was provided by Indian Bank women, comprising Sneha. V, Narmada K.K. and Sumana R Krishnan, who defeated Air India 3-2 in their Group C match. Only Mallika Bhandarkar managed to win both her matches while teammates Vedika Garg and Devika Bhide failed. Indian Bank later defeated ESIC 3-0 to take the top perch in their group.  

In yet another upset, Dena Bank women kept their date with destiny to take the top place in group D and enter the quarterfinals after toppling RSPB 3-1. The Railways, with old war horse Anandita Chakraborty and youngsters Pallavi Kundu and Shweta Parte, could not measure up to the guiles of Dena Bank paddlers, spearheaded by Mamta Prabhu. Earlier, theyhad beaten Defence Accounts and got a walkover from BSNL.

In the six-group men’s team format, leaders like PSPB, RSPB, AAI and CRSB from Group A, B, C and D have make it to the quarterfinals, leaving the field for second-placed teams in their groups and top two teams each from Group E and F fighting it out for the remaining four last-eight stage slots.

Petroleum, with several top players in their ranks, could afford to rest top-ranked Achanta Sharath Kamal who arrived this afternoon. With the going looking good for the reigning champions, it is likely that Sharath Kamal may not have a feel of the table here until the semifinals.