|
|
|
| September 10, 2005 | Saturday | Sha’aban 5, 1426 |
Sumit and Issara crowned champions
LAHORE, Sept 9: Top seed Sumit Prakash Gupta of India and Khunpak Issara of Thailand lifted the boys’ and girls’ ITF (under-18) titles at the Bagh-i-Jinnah courts on Friday. It was the second title Gupta claimed on Pakistani soil after winning the first leg in Islamabad last week.
Gupta, however, came from behind having lost the first to overcome compatriote Kinshuk Sharma in three-set 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a match that lasted for two hours and 15 minutes.
With this victory Gupta earned 30 valuable ITF points along with a trophy. Sharma bagged 20 ITF points and the runner-up trophy.
Sharma, who had a strong forehand challenged the hot favourite, winning the first set aftera breaking his rival’s service in the eight game. Gupta also committed unforced errors on crucial points.
Gupta, however, regained his composure and executed fine stroke-play in the remaining two sets to emerge worthy winner.
It was almost repeat of the first set in the as Gupta won the set by breaking his opponents serve in the eighth game to level the match one-all.
Maintaining his form, Gupta executed fine serve and volley game in the third set and wrapped it and the final breaking serves in the third and the fourth games.
Issara also fought a long battle against Mythri Prerna Appineni of India 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (8). The match lasted two hours 45 minutes.
Both the players displayed a high class game but unseeded Appineni made a good start winning the first set by a close margin. She broke Issara in the 11th game.
Issara recovered from the loss of the first set and made it 1-1 by winning the second set with same scoreline breaking Appineni in the 11th game.
The final set produced long rallies and excellent stroke play Holding the serves Issara and Appineni were locked at 6-6 before playing the tie-breaker.
In the tie-breaker even the score went up to 6-6 before Issara hit a cross court winner to seal the fate of the match.
The boys doubles’ final between Gupta-Anshuman Dutta and Kinshuk Sharma-Khunpol Issara and girls’ doubles between Khunpak Issara-Vishakha Sheroran and Jawairih Noor Din-Inayat Khosla were abandoned due to heavy rain in the afternoon. The pairs got 15 ITF points each from the finals.
Results: Boys’ singles (finals): Sumit Prakash Gupta (Ind) bt Kinshuk Sharma (Ind) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Girls’ singles (finals): Khunpak Issara (Thailand) bt Mythri Prerna Appineni (India) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (8).
|
|
|
|
