Date:06/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/06/stories/2006050613031800.htm

Sport - Tennis

Double for Divija

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: M. Divija of Andhra Pradesh won a double in the Rajesh Exports-AITA Super Series under-14 and under-16 tennis championship, which concluded here on Friday.

The compactly built youngster, who packs quite a punch on her forehand, won a baseline duel that lasted 70 minutes against Prachi Nadkarni of Maharashtra at 6-4, 6-4 and claimed the girls under-16 singles title.

Divija, who is ranked No.9 in the under-16 singles in the country and who had won the National under-16 doubles title along with Nila, had the upper hand against Prachi. Often she rushed her strokes, but made amends later, by playing strongly from the backcourt to take control over the proceedings.

Divija, earlier won the girls under-16 doubles title, partnering Neha. They beat the Karnataka duo of Rachita Sarda and Nimisha Mohan 6-2, 6-3 in the final.

Top seed Aishwarya Srivastava came under a bit of pressure against a hard hitting fourth seed Kyra Shroff of Maharashtra in the girl under-14 singles final. Kyra kept pace with her in the first set. Aishwaraya, however, won the set in a tie-breaker at 7-6 (3) and broke early in the second to wrap it up 6-3.

Samip Mehta conceded the boys under-16 final to Karan Uday Singh of Delhi due to cramps. Karan led 6-3, 2-3 before his rival called it quits.

Earlier, Samip defeated Abhishek of Andhra Pradesh 7-5, 6-4 and won the under-14 singles title.

A.N. Mudappa of Karnataka and Sudanva Sitaram of Tamil Nadu claimed the boys under-16 doubles title with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over the the Tamil Nadu pair of M.A. Naveen and L. Murtuza.

The results: Boys: Under-16 (singles, final): Karan Uday Singh (Del) bt Samip Mehta (Guj) 6-3, 2-3 (conceded). (Semifinals): Samip bt Yeshwanth Nadella (AP) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Karan bt Ronak Manuja (Mah ) 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles (final): A.N. Muddappa (Kar)/Sudanva Sitaram (TN) bt M.A. Naveen/L. Murtuza (TN) 6-2, 6-3.

Girls: Under-16 (singles, final): M. Divija (AP) bt Prachi Nadkarni (Mah) 6-4, 6-4.

Doubles (final): Divjia/Neha bt Nimsiha Mohan/Rachita Sarda (Kar) 6-2, 6-3.

Under-14 (singles, final): Aishwaraya Srivastava (Mah) bt Kyra Shroff (Mah) 7-6(3), 6-3.