BHUBANESWAR 30-Jan-2013 211
Odisha cueist Ashutosh Padhy regained the sub-junior snooker title in the Manisha National Billiards & Snooker Championship at Jiwaji University in Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) today. He beat Hritik Jain of Madhya Pradesh in the final 3-1 (59-48, 49-70, 52-35, 49-25).
This was the third National title for Bhubaneswar lad Ashutosh, who had won the previous sub-junior snooker title at Chennai in 2011 and the sub-junior billiards crown at Pune in 2010. After losing the first frame, Hritik made a comeback and managed to level the match but thereon Ashutosh did not allow Hritik to settle down any more and pocketed the next frame to gain 2-1 lead. In the fourth frame Ashutosh controlled and fearlessly scored 49-25 and sealed the match 3-1 to lift his third national title.
Earlier in the semifinals, Ashutosh outplayed Mohammad Hussain of Madhya Pradesh 2-1, while Hritik knocked out Dev Dongre (Maharashtra) in straight set of frames.
In the sub-junior billiards category, defending champion Dhvaj Haria of Gujarat knocked out Odisha`s Ashutosh Padhy 447-138 in the quarterfinals.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: Ashutosh Padhy (Left) receives the trophy in Gwalior on January 30, 2013.
