Over the years PJ Hindu Gymkhana ( PJHG) has produced many national & international level Table Tennis players. The Gymkhana’s Table Tennis department is therefore full of passionate TT players , who practice morning evening in different age groups. On Sunday afternoon the Gymkhana had organized Super league TT Tournament for 30 players, with 6 players in each team and each team headed by a Group Captain.
Saurabh Mohite’s team pose with Chief Guest Uday Tikekar and Office bearers of PJHG
The team players for each team were drawn by lots, in presence of some participants who were present and TT sub committee members , a day before this tournament and hence the procedure of draw had also raised a lot of curiosity.
The atmosphere was electrifying, as every player had to contribute points to his or her team, with two singles and two doubles matches played among five teams. Finally , it was Saurabh Mohite’s team comprising of Saurabh himself, Prakash Punjabi, Rohan Mohite, Mahek Shah, Rohit Talwalkar & Devansh Choksi topped the league table with maximum points of 318 , followed by Om Lotlikar’s team comprising of Om himself, Premjit Rananavare, Neeta Kulkarni, Sanjay G, Maria D’sa & Dinesh Parekh bagging 307 points to finish second.
Om Lotlikar’s team poses with Chief guest and office bearers of PJHG
The other teams, i.e. Soham Rane’s team with Sanjay Mehta,RC Shah, Nilesh Shah,Ketan Pandya & Niraj Mehta finished 3rd with 289. Favourites P.G.Kelkar’s team with Abhay Mehta, Ojas Choksi, Jaswant Mehta,Dwij Shah& J.Bhutta finished 4th with 250 points , while former international Suhas Kulkarni’s team with the support of his brother Jayant Kulkarni, Siddhant Mehta, Sharad Tikekar,Rajan Kothari & Sujit Jhaveri scored 233233 to finish last.
Prakash Punjabi greets his captain Saurabh Mohite
Overall, it was a good team competition, with some good performances coming from veteran Prakash Punjabi, who won three important singles matches for his team against former international Suhas Kulkarni, Prakash kelkar & Sanjay Mehta. His captain Saurabh also won three singles matches for his team. They received good support from their two doubles pairs. Mr. ketan Pandya Hon. Badminton Secretary, who is also a good TT player played from Soham Rane’s team.he was instrumental in organizing the entertainment show and dinner for the participants and special invitees.
Chief Guest Uday Tikekar welcomed by V.P. kamal Marfatia and treasurer Nimesh Soni.
Well Known Indian Film television and stage actor Uday Tikekar was the chief guest and gave away the prizes. In his short speech, he recalled his good old days, when as a school boy he used to visit PJ Hindu Gymkhana along with his uncle and ate the delicious sandwiches served for 50 paise per plate.
Mr. Kamal Marfatia Vice president of the Gymkhana, Mr. Nimesh Soni, Hon.Treasurer, Mr. Shankar Kamble former ACP Crime Branch and Hon. table tennis Sub Committee member, Mr. Rajendra Pawar Dy.Secretary, Ministry of Sports, GOM, were also present. Mr. Ulhas Shirke Hon.TT Secretary thanked the participants and chief guest, while former international badminton player Leroy D’sa anchored the event.