MIRAMAR: Amit Tambe emerged champion in the 45+ veterans singles event with a fantastic exhibition of sublime tennis, while Rafik Khotu clinched the 60+ singles and doubles titles at the Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2023 at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias here. After four days of marathon action across various age-group categories in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events with a record 199 participants; the veterans tournament concluded on Sunday night.
Amit Tambe outplayed Hemanshu Vernekar 6-1, 6-1 in 40 minutes with both the players producing delightful tennis. Amit was head and shoulders above in his range of ground strokes and accuracy of his serves. A near-flawless serve and volley game by Amit, drew hearty applause from the tennis lovers enjoying the exciting annual tournament organised by Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias in association with Goa State Tennis Association.
Earlier, Rafik Khotu scored a straight-set victory over a fighting Mahesh Keshav 6-3, 6-4 in under an hour with a good all-round performance to bag 60+ singles title.
Rafik Khotu and Manoj Chandiramani won the 120+ doubles event in a fine display of fitness and high quality tennis as they staged a superb comeback against Rumi Printer/Vijay Meher in an exciting three-setter.
Rafik and Manoj started shakily and lost the first set 3-6. However, the duo bounced back in the second set, taking it 6-4; before enduring a marathon third set super-tiebreaker for 11-9 triumph in a nail-biter.
In the morning session, Ajit Sail/ Rumi Printer shocked the fancied duo Sanjay Ashar/ Jaydeep Wakankar 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 super-tiebreaker in a gruelling best of three-setter title clash in the 110+ doubles event.
Ashar, however, went on to top the 55+ singles event. Fighting severe cramps, he got the better of Ashok Kolekar 6-1, 6-1 in the final.
In the veterans 90+ doubles final, Vivek Khadge/Jaydeep Wakankar beat Sunil Lonkar/Abhijeet Mohite 6-2, 6-4.
The debuting event of veterans 35+ mixed doubles saw experienced couple Rajendra Godinho/Charmaine thrash upcoming Prithvi Naik/Atika Gaur 6-0, 6-0.
Arjun Gadre, MD of Gadre Group, along with other dignitaries, gave away the prizes.
