Assam duo Bhavna Kashyap and Agniv Bhaskar seen in action during a mixed doubles event of the NIAPA Northeast Open Tournament at Chumoukedima.
Chumoukedima, December 20 (MExN): The Day-3 of the 5th Toyota NIAPA Northeast Open Table Tennis Tournament at the NIAPA Mini Stadium in Chümoukedima once again revolved around the familiar rivalry between Mizoram’s Jeho Himnakulpuingheta and Assam’s Agniv Bhaskar Gohain, as both paddlers booked their place in the men’s singles final for the third consecutive edition of the championship.
Defending champion Jeho Himnakulpuingheta continued his impressive run with a dominant straight-set victory over Khelendrajit Yengkhom of Manipur, winning 11-6, 11-4 and 11-4 in the semifinals. Jeho’s controlled defensive play and sharp counter-attacks allowed him to dictate the pace of the match and seal his place in yet another final at the NIAPA Open.
In the other semifinal, Assam’s Agniv Bhaskar Gohain produced a composed performance to defeat Mizoram’s Alberto Ruata 11-8, 11-8, 5-11 and 11-4. After conceding the third set, Agniv regrouped quickly to close out the match, keeping alive his quest to overcome his long-time rival in the final.
The final will once again pit Jeho against Agniv, marking their third meeting in consecutive NIAPA Open finals. Jeho, who has established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the tournament’s history, will be aiming to defend the NIAPA men’s singles title for the fourth time. Agniv, on the other hand, will be looking to break Jeho’s hold on the title, having fallen short against the Mizoram paddler in his previous final appearances.
Both players are also featuring prominently in the men’s doubles category. Jeho has paired up with Alberto Ruata to reach the semifinals, while Agniv, partnering Shankab Gautam Baruah, will contest the other semifinal. The men’s singles final between Jeho Himnakulpuingheta and Agniv Bhaskar Gohain will be played on Sunday evening.
In the women’s singles category, Assam’s Bhavna Kashyap reached the final with a straight-set win over Moumita Saha of Mizoram, winning 11-9, 11-9 and 11-9 in the semifinals. Defending champion Trisha Gogoi of Assam also advanced to the final after defeating Anoushna in three sets by 11-7, 11-3 and 11-3. Bhavna and Trisha will contest the women’s singles title.
The men’s doubles semifinals have been lined up with Jeho Himnakulpuingheta and Alberto Ruata of Mizoram set to face Manipur’s Laishram Bikram Singh and Meisanam Basantakumar Singh, while the Manipur pair of Khelendrajit Yengkhom and Ningthoujam Colman Singh will take on Assam’s Agniv Bhaskar Gohain and Shankab Gautam Baruah.
Meanwhile, the mixed doubles category progressed into the quarterfinal stage, with Assam pairs dominating the competition.
The championship, organised by NIAPA, continues to bring together leading table tennis players from across the Northeast with the aim of promoting the sport in the region. The final matches of the tournament will be played on Sunday evening.
