Date:17/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/17/stories/2008051760291700.htm

Sport - Sports : General

Meenal in final

KOLKATA: Meenal Thakur moved into the final of the women’s 8-ball pool National championship at the Spring Club here on Friday.

She beat Anuja Chandra by five frames to one in the first semifinals. She plays the winner of the other semifinal between Vidya Pillai and Chitra Magimairaj for the title.

In the men’s 8-ball section, the big guns stayed away leaving the tables to the lesser lights. In the double elimination format introduced for the first time in the National meet, Amit Yadav was pipped 5-6 by M.K. Verma of Bihar. Charles T. of Mizoram inflicted a similar defeat on Chetan Chhabra.

But the cynosure of all was the 11-year-old Keerat Bhandaal of Delhi, the youngest participant in the Nationals, who upset local favourite Suniti Damani 3-1 to qualify for the knockout stage.

The results: Women’s 8-ball pool (quarterfinals): Anuja Chandra bt Keerat Bhandaal 4-0; Meenal Thakur bt Shreya Kothari 4-1; Vidya Pillai bt Bhanumati 4-0; Chitra Magimairaj bt Neeta Kothari 4-0. — Special Correspondent