KATHMANDU, May 19: Bangladesh and India have become the boys' and girls' champions respectively in the South Asia Regional Qualifiers of ITF Asian U-12 Team Championship on Friday.
Bangladesh defeated host Nepal 3-0 in the boys' final while top-seeded India overcame Sri Lanka in the summit clash of the girls' section.
Despite losing the final, Nepal has booked its place in the boys' event at ITF Asian U-12 Championship to be held in Kazakhstan in December, as a finalist alongside champion Bangladesh. Similarly India and Sri Lanka will take part in the girls' event of Asian Championship as finalists of the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Nepal clinched the third place in the girls' category registering 3-0 win over Bangladesh in the play-off while India claimed third position in the boys' section beating Bhutan with identical score.
In the boys' final match played at Satdobato Tennis Court, Nepali players Aarav Samrat Hada and Aryan Giri faced defeats at the hands of Bangladeshi opponents Mohamed Roman Hossain and Mahadi Hasan Alve respectively. In the boys' singles clashes, Aarav was beaten by Mohamed Roman 3-6, 2-5 while Aryan was beaten by Mahadi Hasan in straight sets of 2-6, 3-6. Similarly in the boys' doubles, the pair of Mohamed Roman and Zubaed Utsho saw off the pair comprising of Aarav and Aki Zuben Rawat 6-3, 6-3.
Similarly in the girls' final, Indian participants Sweta Samanta and Anjali Rathi overcame the challenges of Sri Lankan players Dewmini Warnasuriya and Heshani Imanga respectively. In the girls' singles matches, Sweta saw off Dewmini in straight sets of 6-0, 6-0 while Anjali registered 6-1, 6-1 win over Heshani. Likewise in the girls' doubles category, the pair of Anjali and Shruti Ahlawat defeated the pair of Dewmini and Heshani 6-0, 6-0.
Meanwhile in the girls' category's third place play-off, Nepali players Sharvani Shrestha and Isha Shree overcame Bangladeshi opponents Dipanita Mitra and Sadia Afrin respectively. In the girls' singles matches, Sharvani saw off Dipanita 6-2, 6-0 while Isha Shree defeated Sadia 6-2, 6-1. In the doubles event, the pair of Sharvani and Shubhangee Laxmi Shah defeated the pair of Dipanita and Mashfia Afrin in straight sets of 6-1, 6-2.
Similarly in the boys' category's third place play-off, India's Krishang Raghuvanshi and Ayushman Arjeria beat Bhutanese opponents Thinley Dorji and Jigme Norbu respectively. In the boys' singles, Krishang saw off Thinley 6-0, 6-0 while Ayushman edged past Jigme in straight sets of 6-1, 6-0. In the girls' doubles section, the pair of Ayushman and Nithis Baalaji overcame the pair of Thinley and Jigme 6-0, 6-0.
A total of 20 players from seven South Asian countries including host Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka had participated in the boys' event of the qualifiers hosted by All Nepal Lawn Tennis Association (ANLTA). Similarly 17 players from six nations including host Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka took part in the girls' category of the qualifiers.
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