Niki, Sowjanya emerge champs Saweety in pre-quarters, Neeraj exits from Worlds
USA’s Dalilah Muhammad (second from left) en route to her women's 400m hurdles gold at the Athletics World Championships in Doha on Friday. Niki Poonacha and Sowjanya Bavisetti lived up to their top billing as the duo were crowned champions in the men’s and women’s singles events respectively in the Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship here on Saturday.
In the girls U-18 singles final, sixth seeded Shrivalli Rashmikaa of Telangana silenced No. 5 seed Sandeepti Singh Rao of Haryana 6-0, 6-4.
Earlier in August, she had also won the MCC Adidas National Clay Court Junior Championship held in Chennai.
In the Boys Under-18 finals, Madhwin Kamath made it a grand double. Having won the doubles title earlier this week, Madhwin turned on the heat on court on Saturday against Udit Gogoi for a 62, 7-6 (7/1) win.
Niki, who trains at the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy in Bengaluru, played smart tennis with great control to beat Aryan Goveas 6-2, 7-6 in the men’s singles final. Fenesta Open National Championship winners Nikki Poonacha (left) and Sowjanya Bavesetti (right) pose with the tennis ace Sania Mirza in New Delhi on Saturday.
The top seeded Niki showed flair and finesse and looked eager to capitalise on the big chance which came his way.
“I would like to thank Aryan, it was really a great match. I’ve known him for a really long time. It is a dream for me to win this tournament,” Niki
said after the final match.
Rising star Sowjanya grabbed the big chance which came her way. Playing against four-time Fenesta Open winner and seasoned pro Prerna Bhambri, Sowjanya was not bogged down by her opponent’s reputation.
She waited for her
chance to get the break in each set and pressed the cruise control button for her maiden national title.
“I am so excited that I won the Women’s Nationals. It’s been my dream since 2005 to win it and finally it has come true. I am so happy,” Sowjanya said. Ulan-Ude (Russia), Oct. 5: Former silver-medallist Saweety Boora (75kg) advanced to the pre-quarters with a facile win but Neeraj Phogat (57kg) bowed out after a contentious loss on a mixed day for India at the World Women’s Boxing Championship here on Saturday.
Boora, defeated Mongolia’s Myagmarjargal Munkhbat 5-0 in the opening round to set up a clash with second-seeded Welshwoman Lauren Price.
However, Phogat gave it her all in the clash against China’s Qiao Jieru but didn’t find favour with the judges who ruled against her in a 2-3 split decision.
Boora’s win was a convincing one in which she was showed herself to be the better boxer with more accurate punches.
Earlier, Phogat was clearly superior and kept her composure against an opponent, who hardly showed any technique. Flinging her arms aimlessly, defending awkwardly and grunting relentlessly, Jieru even coped a warning for excessive holding.
But in a stunning call, the judges gave her the nod, Brighton’s Aaron Connolly (left) scores against Tottenham Hotspur in their English Premier League match in Brighton on Saturday. Saweety Boora (right) in action against Myagmarjargal Munkhbat of Mongolia in their opening round bout of the World Women’s Boxing Championship on Saturday.
leaving the Indian dejected. Phogat was competing in her debut world championship.
The Indian contingent officially protested against the decision as per the new norms introduced by the International Boxing Association to ensure better judging. However, their appeal was turned down by the technical committee.
According to the rules, teams are entitled to two
unsuccessful protests. The coaches are required to raise a yellow card within a minute of the bout getting over and follow it up by paying $1000 within half an hour to seek a review of any decision.
The technical committee has the discretion to accept or reject a protest but once it chooses to accept, a decision is made only at the end of the day’s session.