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Sehej Singh Pawar and Presha Shanthamoorthy captured their maiden U-18 title in the Boys’ and Girls’ categories respectively in the ASTA-AITA CS3 U-18 championship that concluded at the FSA courts here on Thursday. In almost identical finals where the champions faced a stiff resistance from their respective opponents in the first set, Sehej overcame Akshay Prasad 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 while Presha was a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Kashish Kant. Their feat is commendable as both are just 14 years of age.

The opening set Sehej draw the first blood with an early break to go 3-1 up. However, Akshay not only levelled the scores but also went 5-4 up before Sehej upped his game a notch higher to drag the set into a tie-breaker which he won at 5 and never looked back as he served and moved better in the second set to grab a 4-1 lead. The 9^th standard student of Vidya Niketan then wound up the match at 6-2.

The girls final also followed the same suit, as Presha after gaining a 4-3 advantage saw herself in the deficit at 4-5 before recovering to win the first set 7-5. Presha who studies at the DPS East school and turns 15 next month, raced to a 5-1 lead, thanks to her all-round display of tennis and won easily 6-2.

Earlier in the day, both Sehej and Presha has silenced giant killers Kevin Titus and Disha Santosh respectively in the semifinals.

Results

Boys U-18 Singles Final

7-Sehej Singh Pawar bt 6-Akshay Prasad 7-6 (5), 6-2.

Semifinals:

6-Akshay Prasad bt 5-Priyansh Solanki 9-4; 7-Sehej Singh Pawar bt Kevin Titus 9-6.

Girls U-18 Singles Final

Presha Shanthamoorthy bt 9-Kashish Kant 7-5, 6-2.

Semifinals:

9-Kashish Kant bt 6-Athmika Sreenivas 9-7; Presha Shanthamoorthy bt Disha Santosh 9-0.