The Hindu : Sandy makes it a no contest, claims title

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 18, 2004

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Sandy makes it a no contest, claims title

By A. Joseph Antony

Indonesia's Sandy Gumulya, the winner of the ITF women's tournament in Hyderabad. — Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

HYDERABAD, JAN. 17. Sandy Gumulya claimed the $10,000 Soma-Seven Hills International Tennis Federation women's tournament singles crown with a facile 6-1, 6-3 win over Rushmi Chakravarthi at the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh complex here on Saturday.

The final was a let down, what with the formalities completed in under an hour. Plagued by fitness problems, Rushmi could not give her best, her strokes receiving little back-up from the shoulders that had been aching through the week and aggravated by a fall in the doubles final on Friday.

The opening game, Rushmi held on to with some difficulty. A string of ill-timed returns saw her drop the third game. In that vital loss stood out one delightful down the line backhander from Gumulya that streaked away from Rushmi in a hurry. The Chennai lass' return of serve invariably found a barricade in the net, while many of her flattened forehanders sailed over Sandy's baseline.

Yet there were traces of her resilience in the second set, Rushmi's responses opening up her rival's court. The seventh and eighth games were displays of what the second seed was capable of. That resurgence could not however be sustained with increasing physical wear and tear.

The diminutive Indonesian played to her strengths mostly, pointing out that Rushmi had made a lot of mistakes. Sandy's tactic had been to put the ball in deep and attack her opponent's backhand. A dash of spin imparted to her serve, that hardly boomed, gave it more bite. Coached by Suzanna Anggarkusuma, the 17-year-old's ambition was to make the pro league.

For Rushmi, the spirit was willing but the flesh, weak. "It has been two matches a day almost right through the week," she said of her participation in both singles and doubles. Besides it was simply not her day, for much as she was keen to win, the body would not rise to the challenge. The seasoned campaigner, who had played the final with a stiff shoulder that was also painful, seemed reconciled to her fate, tired for sure but not unhappy with her performance.

Cine actress Amala Akkineni, who was the chief guest, gave away the prizes.

The result: Final: Sandy Gumulya (Ina) bt Rushmi Chakravarthi (Ind) 6-1, 6-3.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News Update

Stories in this Section

Cricket

Nehra shoulders a heavy responsibility

Tough climb to the top — the Aussie way

Tennis

Moya sprains ankle, hands title to Hewitt

Mahesh pockets doubles title in Auckland

Sandy makes it a no contest, claims title

Hockey

Pointers favour Australia

Badminton

PSPB in both finals

Chess

Meenakshi becomes WGM

Golf

Atwal makes the cut

Volleyball

KSEB women stun S. Railway

Weightlifting

Tejinder betters snatch record