Nikshep, Varun score

BR Nikshep paired up with Varun Venkat to blank Alok Aradhya and Rohan Shenoy to claim the boys’ doubles under-18 crown in the AITA Talent Series at the KSLTA courts here on Thursday.

Nikshep, who won the doubles crown with a 4-0, 4-0 win earlier in the day, also increased his chances of completing a grand treble as he also stormed into the under-18 and under-16 singles finals.

Nikshep registered a facile 6-1, 6-2 win over Rahul BS for a spot in the under-18 final, where he will face Gnana Bhaskar PV, who overcame Alok Aradhya 6-4, 6-3 in his semifinal encounter.  In the under-16 semifinals, Nikshep powered past Bharath Nishok Kumaran 6-0, 6-1 to set up a title clash with Ganesh Srinivasan, who registered a hard-fought 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Gnana Bhaskar.

Results: Boys: U-18 (semifinals): Gnana Bhaskar PV bt Alok Aradhya 6-4, 6-3; BR Nikshep bt Rahul BS 6-1, 6-2.

Doubles (final): BR Nikshep/ Varun Venkat bt Alok Aradhya/ Rohan Shenoy 4-0, 4-0. Under-16 (semifinals): BR Nikshep bt Bharath Nishok Kumaran 6-0, 6-1; Ganesh Srinivasan bt Gnana Bhaskar 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Girls: Under-18 (semifinals): Varunya Chandrashekar bt Pragathi Nataraj 6-4, 6-3; Rashmika Rajan bt Gopika Madhu 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4. Doubles (final): Varunya Chandrashekar/ Nisha Shenoy bt Pragathi Nataraj/ Rashmika Rajan 5-4 (5-3), 4-0. Under-16 (semifinals): Pragati Natarajan bt Prajna Nagaraj 6-3, 6-2; Rashmika Rajan bt Soha S 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.