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Kathmandu Sunday April 29, 2001 Baishakh 16, 2058.
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Rana, Nott take ladies doubles’ title
Post Report
KATHMANDU, April 28 - The pair of Malika Rana
and Elizabeth Nott clinched the ladies doubles’ crown defeating Vindiya Dayananda and
Saima Khan in an exciting match played at the Satdobato Tennis Complex today.
In a match that saw as many as 12 service
breaks, Rana and Nott kept their nerves till the end as both the sets were decided by tie
breakers. The match saw some fine tennis played by the ladies as both the teams did not
seem ready to give up. The final score was 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-2) in favour of Rana/Nott
team.
The match started on an exciting note with none
of the teams holding their serves till the fourth game. Dayananda/ Khan pair was leading
2-1 at the start of the fourth game. Vindiya followed it up by keeping her serve to make
the score 3-1 and the pair looked like wresting the initiative in the match. It was
Malika’s serve in the 5th game which saw a change to their fortunes and started a
mini revival.
The main worrying factor for the Dayananda Khan
team was Saima’s serve. She, having an unusually weak serve for her class, could not
keep any of her serve in the first set. On the other hand, Rana/Nott team benefited from
Elizabeth’s quick smashes. Never for once she looked missing those shots. However,
her game fluctuated from too good to bad at times as she missed some easy chances coming
onto the net. She committed too many double faults during her serve.
Malika, improving upon her tag of being a
predominantly a backhand player, played with much ease as she kept two of her serves in
the first set and three in the second firing a total of three aces altogether.
Men’s doubles for Shahi, Magar
In the men’s doubles match played today,
Chandra Shahi and Shree Ram Magar beat the pair of Krishna Ghale and Subha Ratna Shahi
6-4, 6-3. The match, though the score suggests otherwise, was far from being one-sided as
both the teams played a fast paced game tring to dominate each other.
However, at the end the Shahi and Magar duo
proved to be more agile and fit on the court. It was only befitting that Magar finish the
match with an ace as it was his serve coupled with Chandra Shahi’s athleticism that
brought them the title.
Pariyar, Kuinkel outclass McDougal,
Sonam
Among the junior boys doubles teams, the duo of
Jitendra Pariyar and Anil Kuinkel emerged victorious in the title match against the Dawa
Sonam and Malcolm McDougal team.
Pariyar/Kuinkel won the tie 6-2, 6-2 as
McDougal/Sonam pair looked too tired on the court. The Kuinkel/Pariyar pair played some
fine shots with a perfect sense of placing while McDougal/Sonam pair seemed to be clueless
on the court.
Manoj Rana succumbs to Kamal Thapa
In the title match of the veteran’s singles
for 40 years and above, Kamal Thapa defeated Manoj Rana 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. It was fantastic
result for Thapa as he came back after losing the first set to take the second set without
letting ever aggressive Rana hold a single serve of his.
Rana tried to come back in the third set but
could not hold Thapa who was playing superb tennis on the day. Thapa took the third set
losing only two games and thus taking the title.
Title for Madhukar Rana
Unlike the veteran’s match for the 40 and
above, the result was no surprise in the 50 and above segment as Madhukar Rana breezed
past Laxman Rana 6-0, 6-3 in the title match. Rana has shown amazing consistency in the 50
plus segment winning the past three tournament he has participated in.
The singles’ finals will be played tomorrow
followed by prize distribution ceremony. |
