40th State Open Cash Prize Tennis Championship gets underway

By Our Sports Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 10 : The 40th edition of State Open Cash Prize Tennis Championship-2021 began today at the Officers' Club Tennis Complex at Lamphelpat.
The championship will see boys and girls belonging to U-10, U-12, U-14 categories compete in singles events besides ladies singles, men's singles and doubles, +45 years men's singles and doubles; and +55 years men's singles and doubles events.
In the men's singles opening match, Paras got off to a flying start as he saw off Y Mahesh with a double bagel (6-0, 6-0).
In the second match, Y Azad sealed a 6-2, 6-3 win against Derek before Joshuo Pamei sent Julius Th packing with a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing and Luching L got the better of Korounganba 6-4, 6-3 to advance into the next stage.
Others progressing into the next stage of the men's competition are Y Leelenge who downed Birchandra 6-3, 6-2; Ashwajit who beat Kh Indrakumar 6-1, 7-5; Bhicky who edged out Shankar 4-6, 6-2, 10-7 and Ribhaskar who thrashed A Rajiv 6-0, 6-0.
Meanwhile in the U-12 boys' singles opening match, Dhanaraj crushed Kovith M 4-0, 4-0. Soham K also earned a 4-0, 4-0 win against Ryan Khonna in the second match. Kisan Th thumped Bhavin M 4-0, 4-0 before Joshua Th also won 4-0, 4-0 against Luhan Sangma  to secure the next round berths in the same competition.
In the inaugural match of the U-12 girls' singles competition, M Shetly downed Yohenbi 4-2, 4-2 to move into the next round.
In the U-14 boys' singles opening match, Ryan Kh outlasted Bhavin M 4-0, 4-0 with ease to progress into the next stage.
Later in the day, Soham dumped Yohenba 4-1, 4-0; Kovith M downed Luhan WN 4-0, 5-3; Kishan thumped Sudharshan 4-1, 4-0 for their next round berths.