Parija Maloo goes down fighting to Ksenia Palkina of Kazak

Pune, Nov 6 (UNI) Youngster Parija Maloo from Khamgaon in eastern Maharashtra, gave a spirited display before going down fighting to seventh seed Ksenia Palkina of Kazakistan in the opening round of the NECC-ITF 10,000 dollar Women's Tennis which commenced at the Deccan Gymkhana courts here today.

In the nearly 90 minutes tussle, Parija after dropping the first fought back in the second set to extend her opponent before going down by 6-4, 7-5.

The other young Maharashtra challenger Sagarika Phadke, who was given a wild card entry along with her state mate and reigning national junior champion Rashmi Teltumde, however, went down to Shalini Sahoo in straight sets.

The seasoned Maharashtra campaigner Sonal Phadke (748), who enjoyed a slight ITF ranking advantage over Archana Venkaraman (798) paid the penalty for her erratic game and on committing six double faults on serve was eliminated in a matter of just 45 minutes in straight sets.

The second seed Ankita Bhambri, sixth seed Nungnadda Wannasuk along with Geetha Manohar, made the grade in the 32 players grid without having to sweat it out.

Earlier former India women's cricket captain and secretary of the Women's Cricket Association of India (WCAI) Shubangi Kulkarni, inaugurated the sixth edition of the NECC ITF 10,000 dollar Women's Tennis Tournament.

Following are the results of the singles first round matches: Amina Rakhim (Kaz) bt Prerana Mythri Appineni (Ind) 6-4, 7-5; Ankita Bhambri (Ind) bt Varsha Shivshankar (Ind) 6-1, 6-1; Archana Venkatraman (Ind) bt Sonal Phadke (Ind) 6-3, 6-2; Poojashree Venkatesha (Ind) bt Ashmitha Easwaramurthi (Ind) 6-2, 6-2; Ksenia Pakina (Kgz) bt Parija Maloo (Ind) 6-2, 7-5; Nunghadda Wannasuk (Thai) bt Sagarika Phadke (Ind) 6-3, 6-1; Geeta Manohar (lnd) bt Arthi Duraisamy (Ind) 6-2, 6-2; UNI IS MJ PDS DB2054