Likitha Shetty edged out compatriot Nupur Umashankar 7-6 (4), 6-1 and advanced to the second qualifying round of the Chennai ITF Women’s Tennis Championship.
Likitha was stretched in the opening set, which she claimed in the tiebreaker. Thereafter she took full control and won the second set 6-1.
Results (women’s singles qualifying): Ann-Christin Nilsson (GER) bt Krishnali Bhonsle (IND) 6-1, 6-0, Ashmitha Easwaramurthi (IND) bt Sharmila A Kumar (IND) 6-1, 6-0, L Shetty (IND) Bt Nupur Umashankar (IND) 7-6(4), 6-1.
Chennai Women Hammer Madurai
Defending champs Chennai thrashed Madurai 15–2, 15-0 in the girls section of the 11th Junior State Throwball Championship at Velammal Vidyalaya. Thiruvallur, Karur and Kanchipuram also notched up facile wins.
Panchabikeshan, IPS, inspector general of police (retd) and R Gayathari, international volleyball player, were the chief guests, and they inaugurated the championship in the presence of T Bala Vinayakam, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Throwball Association.