Hot favourite Sagar Kasture, the top seed in the boys under-19, perhaps is the only player with Japanese penholder grip in Maharashtra. He showed tremendous grit after a game down before he asserted himself against Yuvaj Yadav to advance into last four with a 9-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-9 win draw in the Khar-Gymkhna- TSTTA 4-Star District ranking table tennis tournament , sponsored by DCB Bank and hosted by Khar Gymkhana today.
In another tensely fought tie, under-15 second seed Parth Magar, knocked out fourth seeded Sanskar Basak 11-8, 11-9, 4-11, 9-11, 11-9 to join Sagar in the under-19 semifinals.
In the girls singles, Sana Desouza had a mixed day. She defeated Arpita Borhade 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 13-11 in the under-17 section, but was beaten by fourth seeded Sampada Bhiwandkar in the girls under-19 singles, who triumphed6-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-6.
Other results:
Boys U-19 singles: (Quaterfinals): (1)- Sagar Kasture bt Yuvraj Yadav 9-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-9; Ayush Sonawane bt Athik Shah 11-3, 11-8, 11-8; Parth Magar bt Sanskar Basak 11-8, 11-9, 4-11, 9-11, 11-9; Vineet Deepak bt Ansh Karnavar 11-5, 11-7, 11-8.
Girls U-17 singles (Quarterfinals): Urvi Churi bt Ishika Punjabi 11-1, 11-5, 11-4; Hardee Patel bt Viashnavi 11-7, 11-6, 11-3; Sana Desouza bt Arpita Borhade 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 13-11; Bhoomi Pitale bt Anshita Tamhankar 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6.
Girls U-19 singles (Quarterfinals):Shravani Loke bt Urvi Churi 6-11, 13-11,11-6, 9-11, 11-6; Sampada Bhiwandkar bt Sana Desouza 6-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-6; Hardee Patel bt Bhoomi Pitale 11-3, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6; Ananya Chande –bye.