In a surprising turn of events at the Kolkata Table Tennis Open, the Siliguri Smashes pulled off an unexpected victory against the heavily favored Kolkata Knights. The final, held at the Netaji Indoor Stadium on Sunday, saw the Smashes win 3-2 in a thrilling best-of-five series.

The Kolkata Knights, led by their top player, Arvind Sen, entered the final as strong favorites, having dominated the tournament with a series of convincing performances. The Knights took an early lead in the final when Sen won the opening match against the Smashes’ Anil Choudhury in straight sets (11-7, 11-6, 11-8).

However, the Smashes responded strongly. In the second match, Siliguri’s Ravi Bhattacharya defeated the Knights’ second player, Rajesh Mehra, in a grueling five-set encounter (12-10, 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9), leveling the series 1-1.

The third match saw Kolkata Knights regain the lead with a victory from their rising star, Priya Das, who won against the Smashes’ Rakesh Kumar (11-5, 11-9, 12-10). With the Knights leading 2-1, they appeared poised to claim the title.

However, the Smashes’ resilience shone through in the fourth match, where Choudhury faced Mehra. Choudhury delivered a remarkable performance, winning in four sets (11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4) to tie the series 2-2.

The deciding fifth match was a high-stakes affair between Bhattacharya and Sen. The match was closely contested, with both players showcasing exceptional skills and strategy. In a nail-biting finish, Bhattacharya edged out Sen 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, securing the final win and the championship for the Siliguri Smashes.

Siliguri Smashes’ captain, Sandeep Roy, was thrilled with the outcome. “This victory is a testament to the hard work and determination of our entire team. We knew we were up against a strong opponent, but our players showed incredible grit and teamwork. It’s a fantastic win for Siliguri,” Roy said.

Kolkata Knights’ coach, Shankar Rao, acknowledged the Smashes’ performance. “Congratulations to the Siliguri Smashes. They played exceptionally well and deserved their win. While we’re disappointed, we will take this as a learning experience and aim to come back stronger in future tournaments,” Rao commented.

The Kolkata Table Tennis Open, known for its competitive spirit and high-level play, once again proved to be a thrilling event. The unexpected victory by the Siliguri Smashes has added a memorable chapter to the tournament’s history, with fans eagerly looking forward to the next edition.