NAGPUR: Having failed to live up to her billing in the age category events at Dhule, a determined
Jennifer Varghese
made her mark in the Open Women's group by winning a bronze, the only medal for Nagpur in the 83rd Maharashtra State Table Tennis Championship at Nashik.
After marginally missing a podium finish in the U-19 group, the 13-year-old Jennifer went a notch higher and sealed the bronze medal in the women's group in the four-day state meet, which concluded at Nashik on Wednesday.
Earlier at Dhule, Jennifer participated in three age categories but went without a medal after suffering close defeats. Despite an unsatisfactory show at Dhule, the Centre Point School, Katol Road, student remained positive in the higher age-category championship at Nashik.
Jennifer's top-eight finishes in the U-15, U-19 and women's group helped her qualify for the
Table Tennis Federation of India
's (TTFI) North Zone event slated to be played at Mohali and Panchkula.
In the 83rd edition of the state championship at Nashik, Jennifer played as a third seed in the U-19 girls' singles category while she was unseeded in the women's group.
In the U-19 quarterfinals, Jennifer suffered a close 3-4 defeat against
Vidhi Shah of The Suburban District TT Association. Despite the close loss in the U-19 group, Jennifer fought her way back in the women's category, where she surprised experienced and seventh seeded
Manasi Chiplunkar
from Mumbai City 4-2. With her entry into the semifinals, Jennifer ensured Nagpur's only medal. In the last four stage, however, Jennifer went down fighting to Vidhi Shah in an exciting seven games 3-4.
With this bronze, Jennifer ended Nagpur's long wait for a medal in the women's group.
Jennifer's coach
Ujwal Wani
looked satisfied with her overall show in both the state championships. In a chat with
TOI Wani
said "Overall her performance was good. But she needs to improve on some of her techniques so that Jennifer could maintain her rankings at all the levels. I hope she will come back stronger during the forthcoming national level events."
RESULTS: Women's Singles (QF): Jennifer Varghese bt Manasi Chiplunkar (MCD) 11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9; Semifinal: Vidhi Shah (
TST
) bt Jennifer Varghese 11-13, 12-14, 11-4, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9. U-19 Singles (QF): Vidhi Shah (TST) bt Jennifer Varghese 5-11, 10-12, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9
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