Lankan girl among 8 to qualify for U-14 main draw

Chandigarh, Apr 21 (UNI) Sri Lankan Rajendra Madhushani was among the eight girls who qualified for the main draw in the Under-14 singles in the AITA Championship Series Tennis being played at the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association Stadium here today.

On a hectic day in the two-day qualifying rounds, Rajendra defeated Sonali Bansal of Chandigarh in two short sets 4-1, 4-0 in the final qualifying round match.

However, two more foreign players -- Ibrahim Marriyam Raidha of Maldives and Mou Mumitu Jannat of Bangladesh made their exit, losing to their respective rivals in the final qualifying round.

Srijita Ghosh of West Bengal defeated Ibrahim Marriyam Raidha 4-0, 4-2 and Rameek of Chandigarh ousted Mou Mumitu Jannat 5-4 (1), 2-4, 4-1 in a well-contested final qualifying round.

Rajendra Madhushani, Ibrahim Marriyam Raidha and Mou Mumitu Jannat are among the 14 players who have been admitted to the CLTA for residential training after the state association and the Commonwealth Youth Programme Asia Centre had recently signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding.

One boy and one girl from seven Commonwealth Asian countries would get residential training at CLTA. This year seven players have joined the CLTA-CYP Asia Centre project.

Abhilasha (Delhi), Shivika Sharma, Harkirat Bains (both Chandigarh), Rajvir Kaur and Rimpledeep (both Punjab) also advanced to the main draw in the girls Under-12 singles.

UNI