India wins first carrom test against Sri Lanka

New Delhi, Mar 6 (UNI) Indian men's team conceded a match before chalking out a 2-1 win while their female compatriots looked in ominous form as they blanked their Sri Lanka rivals 3-0 in the first caroom test here today.

In the men's singles, P Shasidharan was humbled by Chamil Curray but reigning national champion Ravinder Gaud drew parity for the hosts, beating D Fernando while Yogesh Pardeshi won the third singles, outplaying Viraj Fernandi, to make it 2-1.

In women's singles, six times national champion P Nirmala did not lose a single board as she trounced Amitha Wickramasinghe, a 20 times national champion in Sri Lanka, 25-0, 25-10.

Youngest member of the Indian team and reigning SAARC and Asian champion I Illavazhaki showed tremendous aggression as she ousted her Lankan opponent 25-0, 25-0. Ex-World Champion Rashmi Kumari too blanked Leela D'Silva by the same margin.

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