Tennis: Inspired Shivang helps Delhi reach final

By Kamesh Srinivasan

CHANDIGARH, NOV. 27. Shivang Mishra played an inspired game to help Delhi beat defending champion Tamil Nadu in the semifinals of the team championship in the National Games tennis at the CLTA Complex here on Tuesday.

Serving well, moving smoothly on court and hitting his strokes with a lot of intensity, Shivang was a bundle of robust energy as he defeated the gangling Manoj Mahadevan 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Shivang converted his third match point with a forehand passing shot, to jump for joy, as he had played his heart out in the tough duel that spanned two hours and 10 minutes.

Vishaal Uppal recovered from being down 1-4 in the first set and 0-3 in the second to score a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Vinod Sridhar who would be looking to defend his singles title here.

It was a creditable show by Delhi, which had finished with the bronze in the last edition, and the undisputed hero was Shivang Mishra as he gave a fine start to the team.

The Maharashtra team also made it to the final, beating Andhra Pradesh 2-0. Nitin Kirtane disposed of a challenge from Vasudeva Reddy in three sets after Ajay Ramaswami had dismissed Anant Sitaram for the loss of two games.

In the women's section, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra were stretched to their wit's end by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh respectively.

lThe results: Men's singles (pre-quarterfinals): Nitin Kirtane (Mah) bt Shivang Mishra (Del) 6-2, 6-2; Vinod Kumar Sewa (WB) bt Sushant Bihani (Kar) 7-5, 3-6, 7-5; Manoj Mahadevan (TN) bt Sushar Sharma (Punj) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2; Kamlesh Shukla (UP) bt Tushar Gautam (Del) 3-1 (conceded); S. K. Shivshankar (Kar) bt Harshit Sharma (WB) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4); Ajay Ramaswami (Mah) w/o Vasudeva Reddy (AP); Punna Vishal (AP) bt Kaptan Karsolia (UP) 7- 5, 6-3; Vinod Sridhar (TN) bt Gurcharan Singh (Punj) 6-2, 6-1.

Team (semifinals): Maharashtra beat Andhra Pradesh 2-0 (Ajay Ramaswami bt Anant Sitaram 6-1, 6-1; Nitin Kirtane bt Vasudeva Reddy 7-5, 3-6, 6-4).

Delhi beat Tamil Nadu 2-0 (Shivang Mishra bt Manoj Mahadevan 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; Vishaal Uppal bt Vinod Sridhar 6-4, 6- 3).

Women's singles (pre-quarterfinals): Rushmi Chakravarthi (TN) bt Ragini Vimal (WB) 6-1, 6-4; Reedhina Parekh (WB) bt Jasleen Randhawa (Punj) 6-1, 6-4; Sheetal Goutham (Kar) bt Parul Goswami (Del) 6-2, 6-0; Sonal Phadke (Mah) bt Saima Khan (UP) 6-0, 6-0; Naina Karsolia (UP) bt Kamalpreet (Punj) 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4; S. K. Tara bt Radhika Tulpule (Mah) 6-0, 6-3.

Doubles (pre-quarterfinals): Reedhina Parekh and Priyanka Parekh (WB) bt Nandini Perumal and Poonam Reddy (AP) 7-5, 6-2.

Team (semifinals): Tamil Nadu beat Karnataka 2-1 (Sai Jayalakshmy lost to S. K. Tara 6-2, 3-6, 3-6; Rushmi Chakravarthi bt Sheetal Goutham 6-1, 6-1; Sai Jayalakshmy and Rushmi Chakravarthi bt S. K. Tara and Sheetal Goutham 3-6, 6- 2, 6-1).

Maharashtra beat Andhra Pradesh 2-1 (Sonal Phadke bt Sania Mirza 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 5-7; Radhika Tulpule bt Geeta Manohar 6-1, 6-4; Radhika Tulpule and Sonal Phadke bt Sania Mirza and Geeta Manohar 7-6 (7-3), 6-2).

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