Date:20/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/20/stories/2008052060371900.htm

Sport - Sports : General

Devendra Joshi bows out

KOLKATA: Defending champion Devendra Joshi of PSPB was eliminated by teammate and former champion Manan Chandra 7-5 in the men’s section of the ONGC-Spring Club National 8-ball pool championship here on Monday.

The double elimination format being followed for the first time enabled losing favourites to bounce back into reckoning when the knock-out fixture was drawn with fresh seeding according to performances in this championship so far.

The re-seeding, however, caused a raw deal as Joshi lost closely to Chandra, a former 8-ball champion, who racked out a 7-5 win.

In a creditable show, Promising Rishit Jain of Delhi made his presence felt by ousting veteran D. Raj Kumar of Karnataka 7-3.

In the day’s best show, India No. 3 Rafath Habib of the Railways routed teammate Faisal Khan 7-1.

Important results:

Manan Chandra bt Devender Joshi 7-5; Rishit Jain bt D. Raj Kumar 7-3; Rafath Habib bt Faisal Khan 7-1. — Special Correspondent