Sport - Tennis   

Indian juniors return happy

NEW DELHI AUG. 19. He came up with an unexpected delivery of good results, to help the Indian team finish a creditable seventh in the World Junior (under-14) tennis championship in Prostejov, Czech Republic.

Jeevan Nedunchezian, a ninth standard student of St. Michael's Academy in Chennai, surprised coach Hemant Bendre by winning three singles matches, after the main singles player Sumit Prakash Gupta was restricted to playing the doubles.

Sumit had been stuck by an illness that caused rashes all over his body during his stint with the ITF team in Europe, but stayed on to help the Indian squad.

While Sumit did his part well in doubles, Jeevan came up with the victories much in contrast to the No.1 player Rupesh Roy, who struggled in winning a solitary singles match.

"It was a good performance by Jeevan, and we were a little disappointed with the way Rupesh played. We didn't miss Sumit in singles. Had Rupesh played at the same level as he had done in the Asian tournament, we would have finished much better'', said Hemant Bendre.

The coach felt that it was an eye-opener for the Indian team about the world standards, but added that the team could finish in the top three with better planning.

"We beat the U.S. and France in practice, but lost to top-seeded US rather convinctingly in the match'', said Hemant.

"They didn't miss anything in the match, and played practice in a different way'', said Jeevan, who has grown in confidence.

The Indian girls team led by Sanaa Bhambri also did very well to finish seventh, and coach Kawaljeet Singh said that he would have been happier had the team reached the fifth position.

In fact, the format of only one team from four groups making the semifinals came for criticism, but the Indian squad, which returned to the Capital on Sunday evening was happy with the overall fare, in strong fields of 16 teams.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

Chess

• Confident Indians all set for Youth Olympiad
• Gopal shocks Shetty
• Anand triumphs in style
  
  Cricket
  
• Das determined to make a comeback
• Indian team not to sign agreement
• Breakthrough eludes as deadline passes
• Zimbabwe cricket star tells of strain
• England draws with India
  
  Hockey
  
• Indian team departs for Champions Trophy
  
  Sports : General
  
• Sport Digest
• Sport gaining popularity in the country
  
  Tennis
  
• Harsh Mankad wakes up in time
• Indian juniors return happy
  
  Carrom
  
• Indians dominate
  
  Volleyball
  
• Second win for India Seniors
  
  

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu