June 24, India sports news summary

TENNIS

ITF Women’s Prize $25,000: Thandi beat Chaudhari to reach semi-finals; Costoulas knocks out top seed Marcinkevica

Karman Kaur Thandi continued to sustain the Indians’ hopes as she put together a strong match to beat Vaidehi Chaudhari 6-4, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the $25,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at Tennis Project in Baliawas, on Friday.

Karman is nimble for her big serves and deadly forehand, but more than that, has the patience and maturity to stay calm when the flow of the game works against her.

Vaidehi played firmly to defeat Ankita Raina and Humera Baharmus in the previous rounds. She created a skirmish by returning 1-5 in the first set, but Karman pushed it up when asked.

In the second set, Karman took the lead and continued to be sharp in setting up a semi-final against Punnin Kovapitukted.

The Thai, Punnin played only three games, as Shrivalli Bhamidipaty conceded the match due to illness. The long battle under the heat must have reached Shrivalli and she felt nauseous when she woke up. She mustered up the courage to step onto the court and was also stroked beautifully, but could not stand for long.

In extra time, world number 3 junior Sofia Costoulas of Belgium defeated top seed Diana Marcinkevica of Latvia with a score of 6-4, 6-4. In the semi-finals, 17-year-old Sofia will face Japan’s Saki Imamura.

Photo of Sofia Costoulas, who knocked out top seed Diana Marcinkevica during the $25,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament in Gurugram on Friday.

India’s challenge in doubles came to an end as Zeel Desai and Kazakhstan’s Gozal Ainitdinova were defeated 6-2, 6-4 in the semi-finals by Japanese duo Momoko Kobori and Misaki Matsuda.

– Kamesh Srinivasan