Indian paddlers make winning start in ITTF Pro Tour

New Delhi, Feb 8 (UNI) Indian paddlers registered convincing victories over their rivals in the qualification round of the Indian Open ITTF Pro Tour Table Tennis tournament which began here today.

Young Shamini Kumaresan scored an emphatic 11-9, 11-8, 11-1, 11-2 victory over Nepal's Muna Basukala while Pooja Sahasrabudhe got the better of Nepal's Sandhya 11-7, 6-11, 11-4, 1-6, 11-5 and Vishakha Bijoy beat compatriot Divya Deshpande 11-5, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 in the women's section.

In the men's singles qualification round, India's Anirban Nandi made sure of topping his group as he scored a facile 11-4, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 victory over Indonesia's Bowo Utomo. Anirban had earlier beaten Nepal's Purusottam Bajracharya 11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6.

However, Achanta Rajat Kamal lost to Muhammad Zaenuddin of Indonesia 11-8, 5-11, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 14-12, 7-11 in a marathon duel.

UNI