Germany gets golden double; India crashes out

Chennai, Nov 7 (UNI) Strong Germany bagged a golden double annexing the men's and women's doubles titles, even as India's challenge in the singles event ended in the Velammal International School first World Tennikoit Championship here today.

In the men's singles quarterfinals, India's Balaji, V Jesudoss and B Murali went down after making a mark with a fighting display.

While Balaji lost to Gerrie Craig of South Africa 37-50, Jesudoss was defeated by Manno Piennar of South Africa 31-42. Murali was eliminated by Christian Herzog of Germany 35-42.

In the men's doubles, the German pair of Dominic Schubardt and Speicher defeated the South African duo of Craig Gerrie and Leroux 54-43 to bag the title.

Buoyed by this victory, the women counterparts made it a 1-2-3 finish. The duo of Schellert and Van Asch Wege struggled hard before eking out a narrow 9-8 win against their own compatriots of Boetterchr and Vera Vollhare in the final.

The third place also went to Germany with Westphal and Kissinger scoring a 17-14 win over Sauer and Hartman of South Africa in the play off for losing semifinalists.

The men's third place was bagged by Herzog and Kutscha of Germany, who defeated Hufnagel and Kaiser, also from Germany, 48-41.

In the women's singles quarters German players ruled the roost baggining all four semi-final berths.

Schellert (Germany) defeated Hartman (South Africa) 38-36, Westphal (Germany) thrashed Kokett (South Africa) 50-27, Vollhare (Germany) subdued Potgieter (South Africa) 53-40 and Bottcher (Germany) got the better of Pienaar (South Africa) 47-35.

Results: Doubles Finals: Men: Schubardt/Speicher (Ger) bt Craig Gerrie/Leroux (SA) 54-43 Women: Schellert/Van Asch Wege (Ger) bt Boettcher/Vollhare (Ger) 9-8 Losing semifinalists: Men: Herzog/Kutscha (Ger) bt Hufnagel/Kaiser (Ger) 48-41.

Women: Westphal/Kissinger (Ger) bt Sauer/Hartman (SA) 17-14.

Singles: Quarterfinals: Women: Schellert (Ger) bt Hartman (SA) 38-36; Westphal (Ger) bt Kokett (SA) 50-27; Vollhare (Ger) bt Potgieter (SA) 53-40; Bottcher (Ger) bt Pienaar (SA) 47-35.

Men: Gerrie Craig (SA) bt Balaji (Ind) 50-37; Dominic Schubardt (Ger) bt Manno Piennar (SA) 42-31; Timo Hutnagel (Ger) bt V Jesudoss (Ind) 52-44; Christian Herzog (Ger) bt B Murali (Ind) 42-35.

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