BHUBANESWAR 09-Dec-2012 402
Second seed Anshu Bhuyan and top seed Nikkie Gargi won the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively in the 14th All-Odisha Nalco Open Tennis Tournament here at Kalinga Stadium Tennis Complex today. Singles titles in boys’ under-12 and under-16 categories were claimed by top seeds Mahesh Mohapatra and Avilash Mishra.
Ajay Nishank and Sathirtha Patnaik emeged champions in men’s open doubles category with straight-set win in the final. Pravat Buxi bagged a double, winning 45-plus and 55-plus veteran doubles titles with SS Rath and Pramod Kumar Patnaik respectively as partners.
State Sports and Youth Services Director D V Swamy handed over the trophies ana cash prizes at the closing ceremony. Host Bhubaneswar District Tennis Association vice-president S S Hansdah and secretary Saroj Sahoo were present on the occasion.
The the finals, excepting women’s singles, proved to be lop-sided contest. School girl Komal Vishakha gave top seed Nikkie tough fight in the women’s singles final before losing the three-hour-long battle by 1-2 sets.
Titles winners in men’s singles and doubles received Rs 6,500 and Rs 6,000 respectively. Champions in women’s singles, under-16 boys’ singles and 45-plus veteran were given Rs 5,000 each, while those in under-12 boys’ singles and 55-plus veteran doubles pocketed Rs 4,000 each.
