CHENNAI: J. Swarna of SDAT-Chandra Academy overcame a stiff challenge from K.K. Narmadha (IB) before posting a 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 win in a women’s quarterfinal match of the J.V.S. Rao memorial 9th State-ranking table tennis tournament at the Hall of TT, Nehru Stadium, here, on Saturday.
Other results: Men (pre-quarterfinals): R. Rajesh (LIC) bt N. Sivabalan (LTTA) 11-5, 11-2, 11-4, 11-5; Prasanna (SDAT-C) bt Snehasis Bhattacharjee (SRSA) 8-11, 7-11, 13-11, 6-11, 13-11, 13-11, 11-5; Srivatsa (AGORC) bt T. Raghuram (SDAT-C) 11-7, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8, 11-9; R.S. Raja (SDAT-C) bt E. Prabhakaran (SDAT-AKG) 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9; G. Vinod (SRSA) bt N. Aditya (SDAT-AKG) 11-6, 6-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5; M. Subash (SRSA) bt J. Selvakumar (IB) ) 11-2, 11-4, 11-2, 11-3; Sivananda Seshadri (LTTA) bt Ajay Bharadwaj (MVM) 11-3, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9; M. Hemant Kumar (SDAT-AKG) bt N. Senthil (ICF) 11-6,11-8,11-6,11-5.
Women (quarterfinals): Sathyabama (SDAT-AKG) bt Swetha Kumaravel (IB) 11-9, 11-3, 12-14, 7-11, 12-10, 3-11, 11-9; Arul Selvi (IB) bt N. Aishwarya (SDAT AKG) 11-8, 13-11, 11-7, 11-8; A. Niveditha (IOC) bt U.V. Agni (SDAT-AKG) 11-2, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8.
Easy for Pushparaj
R. Pushparaj (ASCA) carved out a comfortable 274-153 win over M. Senthil in a billiards pre-quarterfinal match on Saturday in the MUC non-medallist tournament here.
Other results: Pre-quarterfinals: F. Michael (IRI, Ajj) bt Kamal (SS) 199-83; Tamil Nambi (MBC) bt Ranjith (SIAA) 180-157; Freddy (TC) bt Jai Kishan (MBC) 191-160; Ashok Viswanathan (MC) bt Palvesam (SIAA) 144-116; R. Rajkumar (TNSC) bt Mohanraj (SRI Per) 244-166; Earlier round: Mohanraj (SRI per) bt Manoj Chacko (TC) 197-148; George Selvakumar (TNSC) bt Natesh (TC) 172-149; Pushparaj (ASCA) bt Fahd (QS) 239-134; Senthil (MBC) bt Udaya (SIVA) 269-148; Munir (TNSC) bt Angelo Johnson (MBC) 215-148; Rajkumar (TNSC) bt Vinoth (QS) 246-127.
St. John’s IRS posts win
St. John’s IRS chalked out a 4-2 win over Don Bosco HS Perambur via a tie-breaker in the Fr Mohanraj memorial trophy inter-school football tournament for junior boys being organised by the DBYC broadway.
The results: St. John’s IRS 4 (Moody, Toyi, Sunida, Rajiv) bt Don Bosco HS Perambur 2 (Prakash, Adarsh Prabu); St Bede’s AIHSS 4 (Immanuel, Prince, Jue, Dhillon) bt St Gabriel HSS 2 (Britto, Karthik).
Memorable win
Integral Coach Factory (ICF) scripted a memorable 70-59 win over Indian Bank in the men’s final of the Mayor Radhakrishnan memorial BC state-level basketball tournament, which concluded at the Corporation ground, here on Saturday.
Southern Railway’s complete dominance continued as it scored an emphatic 52-33 victory over SRM Rising Star to bag the women’s crown.
ICF hoopsters did not put a foot wrong. Be it in basketing or defending its territory, they displayed a missionary zeal making a reputed team like IB team look pedestrian. Everybody played to a strategy. Right from the first quarter, ICF didn’t let its form to dip.
Tony Leslie was the fulcrum around which ICF worked its moves. The ball handler did a splendid job. Srinivasan, Bhubalan and Sikander Oli Raja combined wonderfully well.
IB slipped badly in the first two quarters with numerous misspasses and poor co-ordination conceding a 19 point lead. With the induction of former international and veteran Sunny in the third quarter, IB tried to make amends, but it came a bit late in the day.
Southern Railway women have not lost a match for the last decade at the state-level. SRM fought its way back to equalise 18-each in the second quarter, but a power-packed Railway team proved too hard to beat.
The results: Men (final): ICF 70 (Phubalan 18, Sikander Oli Raja 16, Balaji 14, Tony Leslie 14) bt IB 59 (Thangadurai 13, Amarnath Gopi 12, Javed Khan 11); (third-place): IOB 74 (John D Platto 17, Vineeth R Mathews 11, Sundar 12) bt BSNL 63 (Dili Raj 11, Vinoth 17, Raja 10).
Women (final): S. Rly 52 (P. Anitha 14) bt SRM Rising Star 33 (R.S. Karpagam 15).
Madurai posts win
Madurai defeated Kancheepuram 2-0 in the D.S. Rajamanickam and Md. Ghouse memorial State-level women’s hockey tournament at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Friday. P. Lindaraja Kumari and S. Rasana scored a goal each.
The results: Tuticorin District 4 (K. Saranya 2, Karthihai Lakshmi, K. Saranya) bt Sallendra Babu HC (Dindigul) 1 (P. Ilakiya); Madurai 2 (P. Lindaraja Kumari, S. Rasana) bt Kancheepuram Dist. 0; Punitha Annai Arokya Mary School (Keeranur) 5 bt IHM Tiruvallur 3 via tiebreaker.
Inter-college athletics
St. Joseph’s College of Engineering has come forward to provide a mega addition to the inter-collegiate athletics calendar in the city. The St. Joseph’s trophy south India inter-collegiate athletic meet, to be held in the college from August 12 to 14, is expected to serve the purpose of providing a forum for young athletes to exhibit their skills in the best settings.
Briefing newsmen on Friday, the St. Joseph’s Director B. Babu Manoharan said the meet would be open not only to professional colleges but also to all Arts and Science colleges in Southern India. So far the response has been overwhelming from various colleges in Tamil Nadu. A few from Kerala have also shown interest, according to the Director. In all over 75 teams, comprising over 700 athletes, men and women, are expected for the meet.
“It is our aim before long to make this event into a top quality all India competition virtually on the lines of the all India inter-varsity athletics championship,” he said
P. Nagarajan, Coach of the St. Joseph’s Prime Sport Academy, which has been churning out quality athletes at the university level, said that this meet was timely since the A.L. Lakshmana Mudaliar inter-collegiate athletics was to become an event exclusively for Madras University colleges alone.
He said all arrangements had been made for the conduct of the meet, some of which will be organised under floodlights. “There is no entry fee and and free boarding and lodging will be provided,” he said.
Aside from trophies, medals and certificates there is prize money to be won.
Ashwin takes pole
Championship leader Ashwin Sunder of Team Rams Racing won pole position for both races in the Formula LGB Hyundai class, with the third round of the JK Tyre National racing championship getting underway at Irungattukottai over the weekend. He went on to do that in the qualifying races for the Formula Swift class as well.
Pune racer Rayomand Banajee of Team Prime Racing captured pole position for both races in the Formula Rolon Chevrolet.
Cricket coaching camp
Milestone Sports Academy is inaugurating its annual cricket coaching camp with a free three-day special session by noted cricketers including Lakshmipathy Balaji and S. Suresh for aspiring cricketers in the 8 to 18 years age group.
The camp will be held at New College, Peters Road, Royapettah, on August 15, 18 and 19 between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Participation is limited.
Contact Milestone Sports Academy at 98409 34486. e-mail: >milestonesports@sify.com.
