Shillong (Meghalaya): Telangana table tennis (TT) player Akula Shreeja Andani, who has been consistently excelling nationally and internationally for a number of years, has finally won the national senior women's singles title. She also won the women's doubles title and won the 'Double'. The 23-year-old Shreeja, who was satisfied with the bronze medal in the singles last year, became the champion this time.
Shreeja, who is working as an Assistant Manager at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Hyderabad Branch, entered the ring on behalf of the RBI in this mega event. Aakula Shreeja defeated senior Indian star player Mauma Das 11–8, 11–13, 12–10, 11–8, 11–6 in the singles final on Monday evening. Mauma Das, 38, from Bengal, is a five - time national singles champion and the 17 - time Indian and Asian player to have competed in the World Championships.
In the semifinals, Shreeja defeated Ahika Mukherjee (RBI) 12–10, 8–11, 11–8, 11–9, 3–11, 12–10. In the previous women's doubles final, the Shreeja-Ahika Mukherjee (RBI) duo won 3–11, 11–9, 11–5, 12–10 over Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB)'s Takemi Sarkar-Prapti Sen pair.
With the latest victory, Shreeja became the first Telangana player to win the National Senior TT Championship. Saeed Sultana, originally from Hyderabad, is a six-time (1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955) National Women's Singles Champion. However, the Sultana family migrated from Hyderabad to Pakistan in 1956 and settled there. Mir Qasim Ali of Hyderabad is a two-time (1968, 1969) champion in the men's singles category.
My dream came true ...
I have previously won national titles in the women's doubles and mixed doubles. But being a national champion for the first time in the singles category fulfilled my lifelong dream. The latest win will no doubt give you the confidence you need to excel even better in the upcoming international season.
- Shreeja leaves with ‘witness’
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