PANAJI: Ashutosh Pednekar, Yeon Jong, Chandi Ramani, Rafiq Khotu and Bhushan Akut entered the semi-finals of various age-group singles events in the Veterans category on the third day of the ongoing Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2022 tennis championships being played at the Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias courts-Miramar and at Panjim Gymkhana.
The annual tennis tournament by Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, Goa’s first tennis club, is being organised under the aegis of the Goa State Tennis Association (GSTA), with support from Gadre Group.
Experienced Goan player Ashutosh Pednekar was once again in great touch as he brushed aside the challenge of Dmitri Smirnov 4-2, 4-0 in the 45+ age bracket singles quarter-finals. In a similar one-sided match, Yeon Jong then defeated Rajesh G.S 4-1 , 4-0 to book his spot in the last-four stage.
In the quarter-finals of 55+ singles event,
Bhushan Akut defeated Manoj Pandey
4-2, 4-0. Over in the 60+ event, Chandi Ramani blanked out Prem Sagar 4-0, 4-0 for a place in the semis. Rafiq Khotu struck a fine rhythm in his quarter-final clash to come out 4-1 , 4-1 winner against Suresh Murtadi.
The 90+ doubles event quarter-finals witnessed a pulsating encounter that between Ashutosh Pednekar-Rajesh D’Souza and Suresh Paul-Biswajit Roy. The match progressed neck and neck with both winning a set each and the tie going into the Super tie-breaker. In the end, Ashutosh-Rajesh duo prevailed 1-4, 4-1 (10:8) (Super tie-breaker). Meanwhile, Sheetal Bhosle-Prithviraj Ingale defeated Rajaram Kundaikar and Noel Noronha 6-2 to make their way into the semi-finals.
In the 120+ doubles pre-quarters, Sheetal Bhosle and Dr Dinesh Shingte defeated Jeyram Ponniah and Lakshaman Veerappan 6-2.
Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2022 tennis championships, which also comprises events for juniors, youth and seniors; have prizes amounting to INR 1,55,000.
Other results: Kevin Rebelo-Sachin Dukle beat Vijay Patki-Rahul Swarna 6-3, Sheetal Ghosle-Prithviraj Ingale beat Vijay Mangoankar-Amit Shah 6-1, Rajaram Kundaikar-Noel Noronha beat Mano Chhabra-Tridib Nandy 6-1, Sanjeev Gholap-Hemant bhosle beat Nitesh Rungta-Cusrow Sadri 6-4; Vijay Patki-Dr Dinesh Shingte beat Dnameshwar Bhasme-Ashok Kolekar 2-4, 4-1 10:5(Super tie-break), Venkatesh Gowda-Bharnarlas defeated Sachin Dukle-Sadguru Dessai 4-1 , 4-3(7:3), Vijay Meher-Vinayak Gujarati beat Suresh Murthati-Koteshwar Rao 4-0, 4-0; Ramaswami Balasubramaniam-Ramesh beat Bhushan Akut-Vinayak Gujarati 3-4(6) 4-3(2) 12:10; Ramesh RN beat Gordon Lewis 4-0, 4-0;
Richard Smith beat Kuldeep Singh
4-3(7:3), 4-1; Suresh-Roy beat Yeon Jong- Kuldeep Singh 6-3.
