Sport - Tennis

Digvijay, Nimisha win

— PHOTO: Nagara Gopal

THE CHAMPIONS: Digvijay Mehta and Nimisha Mohan who won.

HYDERABAD: Digvijay Mehta and Nimisha Mohan clinched the boys’ and the girls’ singles crowns respectively in the VIF-International Tennis Federation junior grade-five tournament that concluded at the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh complex here on Saturday.

Mehta subdued Mansingh Athre 7-5, 6-1, while Nimisha defeated Treta Bhattacharya 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in the finals.

On paper, Athre looked a better bet, bigger built and with a serve to match. He was also the more athletic of the two and his net-rushing tactics seemed to work. One stroke from the back-court verged on the spectacular — the Pune resident hit a winner from the baseline, with his back to the net.

Mehta, who had been through the qualifying grind, won the match with his remarkable consistency. The 14-year-old from Chandigarh counter-punched and took out much of the sting from Mansingh’s shots. Mehta also scored with his passing shots that often left Athre high and dry.

A class IX student of St. Stephen’s School, Chandigarh, Mehta acknowledged the support of his Principal Harold Carver, coaches Gary O’Brien, Gajender, Akthar Ali, Pavan Kapoor and his dad Mandeep.

Nimisha Mohan showed grit and endurance to beat Treta Bhattacharya in their three set tussle. The Bangalore lass rarely lost control in the opening set. Trailing 2-5 in the second, the first pre-University course commerce student of Jain College clawed her way back to draw level, only to let slip the set out of her grasp.

“I fed her stronger forehand,” Nimisha, a pupil of Dhyan Uthappa of Tennis Advantage said, explaining her second set loss. In the decider, she took charge again, cruising to her second crown, after her triumph in Chennai last week.

The results (finals): Boys singles: Digvijay Mehta bt Mansingh Athre 7-5, 6-1. Girls singles: Nimisha Mohan bt Treta Bhattacharya 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu