Vasisht emerges champion

Pragati completes a fine double; Rashmika triumphs

Qualifier Vasisht C of Karnataka shocked top-seeded State-mate BR Nikshep 6-4, 6-0 to clinch the under-18 boys’ singles title of the KTPPA-MP Prakash Memorial AITA Championship series junior tennis tournament at the Mahila Seva Samaja courts here on Friday.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Anant Gokhale registered a 6-4, 7-5 victory over State-mate Nihit Rawal to claim the under-16 boys’ singles title. 

In the girls section, Tamil Nadu’s Pragati Nataraj had a field day lifting the under-18 singles’ and doubles’ crowns in the matches held at the Topspin Academy courts after rain forced the organisers to change venues. 

Pragati blew away Rashmika Rajan of Karnataka 6-3, 6-3 in the singles final. In the doubles summit clash, Pragati partnering Nupur Umashankar eked out a hard-fought 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win over Nisha Shenoy and Harsha Sai Chala. 

Rashmika, however, overcame the disappointment of the under-18 final loss to bag the under-16 singles title easing past Tamil Nadu’s Abhinikka 6-2, 6-2 in the decider. 

Results (all finals): Boys singles: U-18: Vasisht C (Kar) bt BR Nikshep (Kar) 6-4, 6-0. U-16: Aditya Anant Gokhale (Mah) bt Nihit Rawal (Mah) 6-4, 7-5.

Girls singles: U-18: Pragati Nataraj (TN) bt Rashmika Rajan (Kar) 6-3, 6-3.

Doubles: Pragati Nataraj/ Nupur Umashankar bt Nisha Shenoy/ Harsha Sai Chala (Kar) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

U-16: Rashmika Rajan (Kar) bt Abhinikka (TN) 6-2, 6-2.