Guwahati: Chitkara University boys warded off the University of Madras threat to tame them 3-0 and enter the final of the 4th Khelo India University Games (KIUG) at the Nehru Stadium complex today.
Joining Chitkara in the final was Chandigarh University, but not before the University of North Bengal stretched them, asking the right questions, especially by Jayabrata Bhattacharya and Soumyadeep Sarkar. However, Divyansh Srivastava responded in the decider to see his side through.
Chitkara University outplayed SRM University 3-0, while SNDT University from Pune shocked Jain University 3-2 in the girls’ semifinals.
Though Chitkara’s result was along expected lines in the girls’ semifinals, the surprise pack in the 16-team event was SNDT’s entry into the final. But the architect of their victory was undoubtedly Samruddhi Kulkarni. The left-hander’s hard-fought win over No. 3 ranked India player Yashaswini Ghorpade was the icing on the cake, as the latter failed to counter the southpaw. The lanky Maharashtra paddler troubled the Karnataka player. Though Karruna Gajendran gave a lifeline with a win in the third rubber, Anagarya Manjunath failed in both her singles, paving the way for SNDT’s passage.
Chitkara did not face many problems as Anjali Rohilla, Suhana Saini, and Oishiki Joradar ran through their opponents.
SRM University thus failed to retain the trophy they won last year and will have to contend with the bronze medals like the Bengaluru outfit.
Chitkara boys did not break a sweat when they beat SRM University boys 3-0 in the quarterfinals, but the University of Madras (3-2) was stretched by Adamas. In the end, Varun Ganesh made amends for his first singles loss with a crucial win in the decider. Chandigarh varsity outplayed VNS Gujarat with a 3-0 verdict, and the North Bengal University defeated the University of Calcutta 3-1.
Jain University thrashed L.N. Mithila 3-0 for a semifinal showdown with SNDT University, which beat the University of Delhi 3-2, while Chitkara scrapped past Chandigarh University (3-2) to earn their semifinal meeting with SRM University, who downed Osmania University 3-1.
SNDT’s Samruddhi Kulkarni was the star performer against the Delhi outfit, and Anjali Rohilla played a stellar role against Chandigarh University in the deciding rubber. Though their lead girl, Kavya Shree, lost the second rubber, Gladlyn Flora and Kaashvi Gupta ensured SMR University’s entry into the semifinals after beating Osmania University 3-1. Gladlyn won both her singles.
Results:
Boys: Semifinals: Chitkara University bt University of Madras 3-0; Chandigarh University bt University of North Bengal 3-2.
Quarterfinals: Chitkara University bt SRM University 3-0; University of Madras bt Adamas University 3-2; Chandigarh University bt VNS Gujarat University 3-0; North Bengal University bt University of Calcutta 3-1.
Girls: Semifinals: SNDT University bt Jain University 3-2; Chitkara University bt SRM University 3-0.
Quarterfinals: Jain University bt LN Mithila University 3-0; SNDT University bt University of Delhi 3-2; Chitkara University bt Chandigarh University 3-2; SRM University bt Osmania University 3-1.
