BHUBANESWAR 19-Feb-2016
Odisha bowed out of the AITA Inter-State National (Men) Tennis Tournament, losing to Nagaland 1-2 in the quarterfinals at Bhilai in Chhattisgarh today. Odisha reached the quarterfinals by winning both of their Group-D league matches comfortably.
The four-member Odisha squad, comprising captain Santosh Malik, Chinmay Pradhan, Ansu Kumar Bhuyan and Avilash Mishra started their campaign on impressive note, blanking Kerala 3-0 and then outplayed Haryana 2-0.
Altogether 24 teams joined the tournament, which was inaugurated by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh. Prabin Kumar Nayak of Odisha was present on the occasion as AITA supervisor. Teams were divided into eight groups and the eight group toppers advanced to quarterfinals.
ODISHA RESULTS:
Feb 16: Odisha beat Kerala 3-0. Ansu Kumar Bhuyan bt Jeffy Jacob 6-1, 6-1; Chinmay Pradhan bt Krishna Kumar 6-4, 6-2; Santosh Mallik-Avilash Mishra bt Jeffy Jacob- Krishna Kumar 7-5, 4-6, 10-5.
Feb 17: Odisha beat Haryana 2-0. Ansu Kumar Bhuyan bt Shrey Gupta 6-3, 6-2; Chinmay Pradhan bt Yuvraj Singh 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Feb 19: Nagaland beat Odisha 2-1. Keneisezotuo Whourie lost to Ansu Kumar Bhuyan 4-6, 2-6. Laiser Khate bt Chinmay Pradhan 6-3, 6-2. Laiser Khate-Keneisezotuo Whourie bt Ansu Bhuyan-Chinmay Pradhan 6-4, 6-2.
