Vaibhavi Shewale and Shabaj Shaikh, both from Mumbai District emerged champions, winning the women’s singles and men’s singles finals of the Apna Sahakari Bank sponsored 1st State Ranking Morrac Tournament, organized by the MORRAC Association, Mumbai, and played at the N.M. Joshi High School premises, N.M. Joshi Marg.
The champions… (left to right) Siddhant Wadwalkar, Junior Boys’ winner, Vaibhavi Shewale, Women winner, Shahbaj Shaikh, Men’s winner and Shruti Sonawane, Junior Girls’ winner, pose with their trophies and certificates along with Chief Guest Ramakant Rahate (centre), after the prize-distribution function of the 1st State Ranking Morrac Tournament.
In the women’s title clash, Shewale who displayed better consistency with her shots overcame the initial challenge from Shubhada Nagaonkar also from Mumbai District, before going on to clinch a rather comfortable 36-34, 46-28 victory.
In the men’s final, which was also a contest between Mumbai District players, Shaikh called the shot from the start against Deepak Maru and romped to a straight sets 35-29, 33-17 win.
The Junior Girl’s final witnessed a grim battle for supremacy as Shruti Sonawane of Palghar District from a set down staged a grand recovery to put it across Amulya Rajula of Mumbai District, winning at 28-42, 41-30, 32-19.
The Junior Boys title was claimed by Siddhant Wadvalkar of Mumbai District who defeated city mate Sameer Ansari 37-31, 38-32.
Results – Junior Girls singles (final): Shruti Sonawane (Palghar) bt Amulya Rajula (Mumbai) 28-42, 41-30, 32-19. Semi-finals: 1. Amulya Rajula (Mumbai) bt Shweta Gaud (Palghar) 37-25, 33-30; Shruti Sonawane (Palghar) bt Disha Bangera (Palghar) 45-20, 44-27.
Junior Boys’ singles (final): Siddhant Wadvalkar (Mumbai) bt Sameer Ansari (Mumbai) 37-31, 38-32. Semi-finals: Siddhant Wadvalkar (Mumbai) bt Atharv Telang (Pune) 39-25, 37-28; Sameer Ansari (Mumbai) bt Avinash Mohite (Mumbai) 31-36, 39-29, 30-16.
Women singles (final): Vaibhavi Shewale (Mumbai) bt Shubhada Nagaonkar (Mumbai) 36-34, 46-28. Semi-finals: Vaibhavi Shewale (Mumbai) bt Samidha Jadhav (Mumbai) 35-34, 37-32; Shubhada Nagaonkar (Mumbai) bt Sushma Pardeshi (Palghar) 34,21, 33-37, 39-36.
Men singles (final): Shabaj Shaikh (Mumbai) bt Deepak Maru (Mumbai) 35-29, 33-17. Semi-finals: Shabaj Shaikh (Mumbai) bt Mahendra Tambe (Mumbai) 18-31, 48-41, 39-37; Deepak Maru (Mumbai) bt Kirti Wadkar (Mumbai Suburbs) 44-28, 34-35, 44-22.