Vaidik Munshaw shocks 2nd seed Chetan Pandit

Mumbai, May 11 (UNI) Qualifier Vaidik Munshaw of Gujarat shocked boys' under-16 No 2 seed Chetan Pandit of Andhra Pradesh to enter the finals of the Bombay Gymkhana-TCS All India National Super Series Junior Tennis Tournament 2007 at the Bombay Gymkhana here today.

Munshaw overcame Pandit 6-1, 6-4 after enduring dogged resistance in the second set.

Munshaw's upset win overshadowed Rohit Bisht's effort of advancing to the boys' under-16 and under-14 finals.

In-form Bisht, who won the 'double' in the National Series at Practennis last week, ended wild card from Maharashtra Jugal Marfatia's campaign with a 6-4, 6-1 win in the other semi-finals.

Bisht set himself up for the 'double' when as the No. 1 seed he entered the under-14 final after beating No 6 R. Ram Kumar of Tamil Nadu 6-1, 6-4.

He set up a title clash with his brother Ronit, the second seed, who rallied to a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 win over unseeded Rakshay Thakkar of Maharashtra, after experiencing an early challenge in the opening set.

''Though I am playing well, I still need to improve on my forehand and backhand down-the-line shots. Winning the double at Practennis last week was a confidence booster,'' said Rohit.

On his prospects in the under-16 final, he said, ''It will be a good match. Vaidik is a strong challenger with a lot of fighting spirit. The last time we played, I lost the third set tie-breaker.

So I cannot take him for granted.'' No. 7 Sonia Dayal of Maharashtra will take on third seed Shweta Rana of Delhi in the girls' under-16 final, while unseeded Amrita Mukherjee of West Bengal faces No 2 Vaidehi Bhagvat of Maharashtra in the girls' under-14 final.

RESULTS: Boys U-16 (SF): 4-Rohit Bisht (Del) bt wc-Jugal Marfatia (Mah) 6-4, 6-1; Q-Vaidik Munshaw (Guj) bt 2-Chetan Pandit (AP) 6-1, 6-4.

Boys U-14 (SF): 1-Rohit Bisht (Del) bt 6-R. Ram Kumar (TN) 6-1, 6-4; 2-Ronit Bisht (Del) bt un-Rakshay Thakkar (Mah) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. Doubles: Arjun Kadhe/R.

Ram Kumar bt Tushal Thawani/Ronit Bisht 5-4 (5), 4-1; G. Rupana/K. Suraj bt K. Pradeep/P. Surya 4-1, 1-4 (11-9).

Girls U-16 (SF): 7-Sonia Dayal (Mah) bt 6-Natasha Palha (Goa) 6-3, 6-2; 3-Shweta Rana (Del) bt 2-Arushi Sharma (Del) 7-6 (6), 6-4. Doubles: B. Spurthi/S.

Mohana bt Treta Bhattacharya/Shweta Rana 1-4, 4-1 (11-9); S. Arushi/R. Saadgi bt G. Nikkit/S. Rachita 4-0, 5-3.

Girls U-14 (SF): un-Amrita Mukherjee (WB) bt 8-Namita Bal (Mah) 6-3, 6-2; 2-Vaidehi Bhagvat (Mah) bt 6-Sansitha Nandakumar (TN) 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

UNI