Asian Games tennis: Indian women lose to Indonesia

GUANGZHOU - Indian women were outclassed 0-3 by Indonesia in the first round of team event of the Asian Games tennis competition here Saturday.

Poojashree Venkatesha and Niripuma Sanjeev were handed a straight sets defeat in the singles by the Indonesians.

Playing the first rubber, Poojashree was a set and a break point up against Lavinia Tananta but lost 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.

After racing away with the first set in 35 minutes, the 20-year-old Indian was leading 3-1 in the second before dropping her serve immediately. She was then broken by Tananta in the 11th game and it was a set all.

In the decider, after exchanging early breaks, the Indonesian girl won the last three games to win the set and the match.

In the second rubber, the 33-year-old and a mother of four-year girl, Nirupama, who returned to competitive tennis for last month’s Commonwealth Games, was sent packing 1-6, 1-6 by Ayu Kade Dwi Fani Damayanti in 56 minutes.

In the doubles, Nirupama partnering Rushmi Chakravarthi lost to Nany Rahayu Basuki Suharyadi and Jessy Priskila Rompies 3-6, 1-6.

–Indo-Asian News Service

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