Date:04/05/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/05/04/stories/2003050404871700.htm

Sport - Tennis

Asha made to sweat by Parul

INDORE MAY 3. Asha Nandakumar defeated Parul Goswami 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in the first and final qualifying round to make it to the main draw of the $5,000 ITF women's circuit tennis tournament.

Two others, Varsha Shishankar and Rani Smita Jain also won their matches to make the grade.

However, five others who did not have an opponent to challenge them in the 16-member draw that had only 11 entries, made it without hitting a ball.

They were, Sagarika Phadke, Sandhya Nagaraj, Anupama Rajur, Pallavi Sharma and Chirashanti Rajur.

The results (qualifying event):

First and final round:

Asha Nandakumar bt Parul Goswami 5-7, 6-4, 6-3; Varsha Shishankar bt Nitisha Deodhar 6-1, 6-1; Rani Smita Jain bt Naina Karsolia 6-3, 6-3.