CARROM
K. Srinivas wins men’s titles at Carrom World Cup
Winning a World Cup once in any discipline is an achievement in itself, but winning it twice after exactly a decade apart is obviously all the more special.
K. Srinivas of Hyderabad beat his teammate Mohd. Arif entered the 2024 World Cup men’s singles final in the United States in the early hours of Sunday (Indian time) to achieve a ‘golden hat-trick’, after winning the men’s team event and the titles in male doubles.
It was an unforgettable moment for the 31-year-old. Especially since his visa was rejected twice and he wasn’t entirely sure if he would be able to reach the United States for the championship. Finally, when he landed, he had almost no practice.
“It was definitely very difficult. Arif is a very aggressive player. The biggest challenge for me was to counter that as I had to combine defense and attack,” said Srinivas, who works as a manager at Indian Oil Corporation (HR). Sports stars.
For someone who beat the highly gifted S. Aditya, his fellow Hyderabadi, in the semi-final, Srinivas said he had to rely on his experience to get the better of his opponent in the final as he had recently lost to Arif in an All India tournament.
“It’s a great feeling to win the World Cup a second time (after winning it in 2014) without losing a single match.”
Srinivas also happens to be the second Hyderabadi to win a Carrom World Cup title twice after S. Appoorwa won long in women’s singles.
Reflecting on the level of the game, four-time senior national champion Srinivas said the current crop of players are very aggressive and don’t care about defense at all. “It’s really difficult to face them with our traditional mix of defense and attack,” he said.
“Sure, two World Cup titles should also mean a lot in terms of recognition,” said Srinivas, a two-time Federation Cup champion, with a big smile.
K. Santhosh Kumar, president of Telangana Carrom Association and CEO of Navyabharathi Global School (Nizamabad), said they would organize a befitting felicitation function for Srinivas and hoped to meet Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, to inform him of this achievement.
-VV Subrahmanyam
TENNIS
Svrcina topples seed at ITF Mumbai
Dalibor Svrcina in the $25,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Dalibor Svrcina in the $25,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Second seed Dalibor Svrcina of the Czech Republic beat Uzbekistan’s Khumoyun Sultanov 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the final of the $25,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament at the GA Ranade Complex on Sunday.
The second consecutive title, after that in Bhubaneswar, was the fifth career singles title for 22-year-old Svrcina. He collected $3,600 and 25 ATP points. The runner-up earned 16 points and $2,120.
RESULTS (FINAL)
Dalibor Svrcina (Czech Republic) against Khumoyun Sultanov (Uzb) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
-Kamesh Srinivasan
Riya Bhatia and Ankita Raina lose doubles final
Riya Bhatia, partnering Polina Iatcenko, was defeated 3-6, 6-2 (10-8) in the doubles final of the $40,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament in Funchal, Portugal.
At a similar event in Brisbane, Australia, Ankita Raina, partnering Japan’s Yuki Naito, was defeated by top seeds Destanee Aiava and Maddison Inglis in the doubles final 6-3, 6-4.
RESULTS
$40,000 ITF Women, Brisbane, Australia Doubles (final): Destanee Aiava & Maddison English (AUS) against Yuki Naito (Japan) & Ankita Raina 6-3, 6-4.
$40,000 ITF Women, Funchal, Portugal Doubles (final): Holly Hutchinson and Ella McDonald (GBR) against Riya Bhatia and Polina Iatcenko 3-6, 6-2, (10-8).
-Kamesh Srinivasan
Rian and Paavni win the TPL Masters event
Rian Sharma and Paavni BIsht won the men’s and women’s titles in the TPL Road to Gold Masters tennis event at the DLTA Complex on Sunday.
Rian defeated Sachin Rana 13-12 in the final, in the 25-point format. Paavni Bisht defeated Manshi Singh 13-12 for the women’s title.
The champions receive Rs. 75,000 worth of prize money, along with a chance to enjoy the Tennis Premier League when it takes place at the Cricket Club of India (CCI), Mumbai, from December 3 to 8.
The results:
Men (final): Rian Sharma v Sachin Rana 13-12.
Women (final): Paavni Bisht v Manshi Singh 13-12; Semi-finals: Manshi vs K Muskan 16-9; Paavni by Riddhima Mishra 14-11.
Boys under 10 (final): Geetansh Saini v Harsh Tanwar 15-10; Semi-finals: Harsh bt Vidhaan Rajuir 13-12; Geetansh by Veer Guliani 13-12.
Girls Under 10 (final) Ruhani Kaur Handa v Aaryana Rathi 13-12; Semi-finals: Aaryana against Amyra Gupta 13-12; Ruhani against Bani Dhodi 21-4.
-Kamesh Srinivasan
BADMINTON
Registrations open for interministerial badminton
The inter-departmental badminton is scheduled to take place at the AIIMS Gymkhana in New Delhi from December 2 to 13.
Closing date for registrations with the Cultural and Sports Directorate of the Central Civil Service on November 22.
-Kamesh Srinivasan
POLO
Marambio stars in Jaipur Delta win
Santiago Marambio scored four goals to guide Jaipur Delta to a 7-5 victory over Vimal Arion Achievers in the final of the Umaid Bhawan Palace Sir Pratap Singh Cup polo tournament at the Jaipur Polo Ground on Sunday.
Padmanabh Singhw was adjudged ‘Most Valuable Player’ and mare Akasha was declared ‘Best Polo Pony’.
The (final) results:
Jaipur Delta 7 (Santiago Marambio 4, Padmanabh Singh 2, Hurr Ali) by Vimal Arion Achievers 5 (Chris Mackenzie 3, Abhimanyu Pathak, Vishwarupe Bajaj).
-Kamesh Srinivasan
