BHUBANESWAR 10-Nov-2011 255
Local favourite Avilash Mishra won the boys` singles crown along with 15 National ranking points in the AITA Under-14 Talent Series Tennis Tournament, which concluded here at Bhubaneswar Club Tennis Complex today. A trainee of city-based S S Tennis Academy, Avilash beat his academy-mate Nishant Kumar (Bihar) in the final 6-2, 6-2. Earlier in the semifinals, Avilash got the better of statemate Abhilash Chandra Sahoo 6-1, 6-1; while second seed Nishant prevailed over Ayanampudi K Rohit (AP) 6-4, 7-5.
Second seed Sai Kirthi Behera of Andhra Pradesh won the girls` singles title with a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 win over top seed and local favourite Tanmayee Patnaik in the final. Earlier in the semifinals, Sai Kirthi outplayed third seed Koyal Mishra (Odisha) 6-3, 6-1, while Tanmayee faced stiff competition in the first set against statemate Komal Vishakha before winning 7-6 (7-4), 6-0. The champion gained 15 National ranking points, the runner-up 12 points and the losing semifinalists 10 points each.
Odisha duo Abhilash Chandra Sahoo and Adarsh Sahoo claimed boys` doubles title, defeating Bihar-Odisha pair of Nishant Kumar and Avilash Mishra in the hard-fought final via super tie-break 6-3, 4-6, 10-2. Madhusudan Padhi, the president of host Khurda District Tennis Association, handed over the trophies at the closing function.
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PHOTO: Title winners, losing finalists and guests at the closing function of the AITA Talent Series Tournament in Bhubaneswar on Nov 10, 2011.
