Pankaj and Ayesha emerge champions

Defending men’s champion Pankaj Pawar completed a hat-trick, while Ayesha Mohd. regained the women’s crown, in the Bombay YMCA 4th Mumbai District Ranking Carrom Tournament, at the Procter YMCA, Agripada.

Jain Irrigation’s Pawar endured a late challenge in the 90-minute final before surging to a 25-0, 20-25, 25-8 win over Air India’s world No. 2 Riyaz Akbar Ali of Ratnagiri. 2014 winner Ayesha Mohd. of Jain Irrigation utilised her vast experience to overcome compatriot Maitreyee Gogate 25-18, 25-6.

Pawar, who earlier was forced to battle for hardfought wins in the quarterfinals and semi-finals, endured a scare following Akbar Ali’s stunning comeback in the second game that forced the decider.

After winning the opening game 25-0 in five boards, Pawar looked set to wrap up the match with an envious 20-8 advantage in the second game at the end of six boards. But Akbar Ali, who finished runner-up to Prashant More in the recently concluded World Championship in Birmingham, UK initiated a brilliant recovery with delightful back-to-back clearances in the following two boards to draw level and light up the contest.

Pawar cruised to a 20-8 cushion in the seventh board of the decider when Akbar Ali missed a black rebound that proved costly and changed his fortunes. Needing a break-to-finish in the eighth board, Akbar Ali threw in the towel that gave Pawar the coveted three-in-a-row.