July 12, 2008	Saturday	Rajab 8, 1429

KARACHI, July 11: Indian paddlers proved that they are a force to be reckoned with when they swept all the 10 gold medals at stake in the Maymar 2008 South Asian Junior Table Tennis Championship which concluded at Habib Public School gymnasium on Friday.

The Indians were far superior to their opponents in the four-nation contest dominating all the five events in boys and as many in the girls to return with a rich harvest of 10-4-0.

Sri Lanka had to be content with second slot with a tally of 0-6-1 while hosts Pakistan settled for third with 10 bronze. Nepal finished at the bottom with nine bronze.

The events that were contested in boys’ and girls categories include junior team event, junior singles, junior doubles, cadet singles and cadet team event.

By virtue of attaining top two positions, India and Sri Lanka qualified for the upcoming Asian Junior Table Tennis Championship being held at Singapore from July 23.

Mrs. Nasreen Jalil, Naib Nazim of the city, who graced the occasion, distributed the prizes.

Syed Mohsin Hasan, Col (retd) Azher Dean, former players Arif Khan and Nazo Tahir were among others who also presented medals to the players.

Sri Lankan team left for home Friday night while the Indians and Nepalese are scheduled to return on Saturday.

Results (all semi-finals):

Cadet girls’ singles Under-15:

Ankita Das (India) bt Erandi Warusvithana (Sri Lanka) 11-4, 11-7, 11-5,

11-6; Charvi Rajkumar Kawle (India) bt Chavindya De Silva (Sri Lanka) 11-8, 11-3, 12-14, 11-6, 11-8.

Cadet boys’ singles Under-15:

Soumyajit Ghosh (India) bt Hasintha Shashiranga (Sri Lanka) 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 14-12, 11-9; Sathiyan Gnansekaran (India) bt Malith Dilusha (Sri Lanka) 13-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-9.

Junior girls’ singles Under-18:Pooja Vijay Sahasrabudhe (India) bt Ishara Madurangi (Sri Lanka) 11-6, 11-7, 12-10, 11-5; Soumi Mondal (India) bt Tharindra Weerakoon (Sri Lanka) 13-11, 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7.

Junior boys’ singles Under-18:

Shubham Sharma (India) bt Abdul Rahim (Pakistan) 13-11, 11-1, 11-4, 11-8; Raj Mondal (India) bt Sahnaka Ganegoda (Sri Lanka) 11-8, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5.

Final results:

Cadet girls’ singles Under-15:

Ankita Das (India) bt Charvi Rajkumar Kawle (India) 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-4.

Cadet boys’ singles Under-15:Soumyajit Ghosh (India) bt Sathiyan Gnansekaran (India) 11-4, 6-11, 11-6, 10-12, 12-10, 11-8.Junior girls’ singles Under-18:

Soumi Mondal (India) bt Pooja Vijay Sahasrabudhe (India) 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3.

Junior boys’ singles Under-18:

Shubham Sharma (India) bt Raj Mondal (India) 11-5, 11-1, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8.