Nagaland: Jeho, Agniv set for NIAPA Men’s Singles Final

The rivalry between Mizoram’s Jeho Himnakulpuingheta and Assam’s Agniv Bhaskar Gohain will once again take centre stage as both paddlers advanced to the men’s singles final of the 5th Toyota NIAPA Northeast Open Table Tennis Tournament at NIAPA Mini Stadium, Chümoukedima. This marks their third consecutive meeting in the championship final.
Defending champion Jeho Himnakulpuingheta displayed commanding form in the semifinals, defeating Manipur’s Khelendrajit Yengkhom in straight sets 11-6, 11-4, 11-4.
His controlled defensive play and sharp counter-attacks ensured a smooth passage into the final.
In the other semifinal, Assam’s Agniv Bhaskar Gohain overcame Mizoram’s Alberto Ruata 11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4. Despite dropping the third set, Agniv regrouped quickly to secure victory and keep alive his bid to end Jeho’s dominance.
The men’s singles final, scheduled for Sunday evening, will see Jeho aiming to defend his title for the fourth time, while Agniv seeks to break his rival’s hold on the crown.
Meanwhile, both players are also in contention in the men’s doubles category. Jeho has paired with Alberto Ruata to reach the semifinals, while Agniv, partnering Shankab Gautam Baruah, will contest the other semifinal.
In the women’s singles, Assam’s Bhavna Kashyap booked her place in the final with a hard-fought straight-set win over Mizoram’s Moumita Saha (11-9, 11-9, 11-9).
Defending champion Trisha Gogoi of Assam also advanced, defeating Anoushna 11-7, 11-3, 11-3. Bhavna and Trisha will face off for the women’s singles title.
The men’s doubles semifinals will feature Jeho and Alberto Ruata against Manipur’s Laishram Bikram Singh and Meisanam Basantakumar Singh, while Manipur’s Khelendrajit Yengkhom and Ningthoujam Colman Singh will take on Assam’s Agniv Bhaskar Gohain and Shankab Gautam Baruah.
In the mixed doubles, Assam pairs continued to dominate as the competition progressed into the quarterfinal stage.
Organised by NIAPA, the championship brought together leading table tennis players from across the Northeast, with the final matches set to be played on Sunday evening.