The Hindu : Indian challenge ends

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 11, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Indian challenge ends

NEW DELHI APRIL 10. The Indian challenge suffered a premature end in the second tournament of the ITF East Asian under-14 tennis circuit in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Top-seeded Agnel Gladwin, who had won the title in the first tournament, lost in the quarterfinals 6-7 (3-7), 3-6 to Hsu-Chun Huang of Chinese Taipei. Agnel had earlier beaten Rya Cheung of Hong Kong 6-0, 6-3 and Nimman Jeeratanont of Thailand 6-1, 6-0 in the first two rounds in that order.

The second Indian boy in the field, Arnav Jain also lost in the quarterfinals, as he went down tamely 1-6, 1-6 to second-seeded Peerapach Tupwong of Thailand. Arnav had earlier beaten Hao-Hsiang Liao of Chinese Taiepi 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the first round and Kittipong Wachiramanowong of Thailand 6-2, 6-3 in the pre-quarterfinals.

In doubles, Agnel and Arnav lost in the pre-quarterfinals 0-6, 1-6 to Anukoon Klangnak and Kittipong Wachiramanowong of Thailand after beating Nimman Jeeratanont of Thailand and Toshiya Suzuki of Japan 6-1, 6-0 in the first round.

The only Indian girl in the circuit, Ashmitha Easwaramurthi lost in the first round of singles 2-6, 6-4, 3-6 to Pudtra Uthumporn of Thailand.

She, however, made it to the semifinals of doubles partnering Vlada Ekshibarova of Uzbekistan. The Indo-Uzbek combination lost 1-6, 3-6 to the second-seeded Chia-Jen Hu and Szu-Yu Lin of Chinese Taipei after beating Dala Nilayay and Ammone Sumuongsor of Laos 6-0, 6-0 and Ratchaya Chaichanachaicharn and Parichart Chareonsukployphol of Thailand 6-3, 6-4 in the first two rounds.

The ITF will select an Asian team for the European circuit based on the performances in the two tournaments of the East Asian Circuit, which had been preceded by the South Asian Circuit.

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