With just four teams competing in the section, PSPB didn’t have any problems finishing atop and grabbing their spot in the Junior Youth Nationals to be held at Jammu from December 2. Having registered two successive 3-0 wins against Air India and Railways, they have ensured the gold medal for themselves. Despite all teams having a match in hand to complete the league formality, nothing can alter the PSPB girls’ march.

As for their boys, they were very much in line to book their Jammu Nationals berth after winning two matches in the single group league. However, they will have to wait until the five-team league formalities are completed tomorrow.

PSPB, RSPB WOMEN IN FINAL

The Petroleum women secured defeated Reserve Bank of India 3-0 in the first semifinal of the team event. They will take on RSPB women, who struggled past a determined Bank of Baroda Sports Control Board 3-0 in the final tomorrow.

Manika Batra opened against RBI’s top player, Ayhika Mukherjee and soon decimated her 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-1 to put PSPB on the path to final. Archana Kamath consolidated their position, despite a good resistance from Sreeja Akula, winning the second rubber 8-11, 11-1, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9. Sutirtha Mukherjee, their third player in today’s combination, accounted for Amrutha Pushpak in straight games to storm into the final.

The AAI women gave a good fight through out and stretching their Railways opponents full in the first two rubbers before Takeme Sarkar stopped any further agony with a 3-1 win in the third singles.

In the first, Sagarika was 0-2 down against Selena but the former steadied well to take the last three games for 1-0 lead. Though Moumita began well, Mallika Bhandarkar went 2-1 up to give a glimmer of hope. But then the Railways paddler kept herself in the match to level and then went for the final assault. Takeme, on the other hand, started with the first game loss and soon established the lead to finish off in style.