PSPB paddlers reach last 8 in men's, women's team events

Kolkata, Aug 22 - Reigning champions Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) humbled their group opponents without breaking much sweat to cruise into the quarter-finals of the men’s and women’s team events at the All-India Inter-Institutional Table Tennis Championships here Wednesday.

In the men’s section, Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), Airport Authority of India (AAI), Central Revenue Sports Board (CRSB) and Food Corporation of India also sailed into the last eight but Group-F leaders Dena Bank suffered two successive losses to bow out in the first round.

Dena Bank first lost 1-3 to Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and then to Indian Audit and Accounts Department 0-3.

Indian Bank pulled off an upset in women’s team contest by getting the better of Air India 3-2 in their Group C match. Indian Bank later defeated ESIC 3-0 to take the top perch in their group.

In another upset, Dena Bank women took top place in Group D and entered the quarter-finals after toppling RSPB 3-1. The Railways, with the experienced Anandita Chakraborty and youngsters Pallavi Kundu and Shweta Parte could not measure up to Dena Bank paddlers, headed by Mamta Prabhu.

The PSPB paddlers also made it to the quarter-finals in the youth boys and youth girls sections at the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra.