Khazima edges out Kajal

17-year-old M. Khazima wins women's quarterfinals; Tamil Nadu dominates team events.

The 17-year-old World Cup champion M. Khazima pipped Kajal Kumari 21-17, 17-24, 24-20 in the women’s quarterfinals of the 52nd National carrom championship at the NDMC Indoor Stadium here on Thursday.

Tuba Sehar, who defeated former World champion and multiple-time National champion Rashmi Kumari in the pre-quarterfinals 23-18, 13-25, 25-2, V. Mithra, and L. Keerthana were the others to make the last-four stage in the women’s section.

In the men’s event, reigning World Cup champion K. Srinivas went down to former World champion Prashant More 22-11, 25-17 in the quarterfinals. Zaid Ahmad Farooquee, Sandeep Dive and Abhijit Tripankar were the others to make the semifinals.

In the team championship, Tamil Nadu claimed both the men’s and women’s titles.

In the Institutional team championships, Jain Irrigation Systems Limited (JISL) finished on top in both the men’s and women’s events.

The results: Quarterfinals: Men: Prashant More bt K. Srinivas 22-11, 25-17; Zaid Ahmed Farooquee bt Mohd. Arif 18-20, 25-9, 25-0; Sandeep Dive bt Gautam Bhol 25-17, 25-5; Abhijit Tripankar bt Abdul Asif 25-20, 25-13.

Women: Tuba Sehar bt Kavita Somanchi 25-11, 12-25, 25-0; M. Khazima bt Kajal Kumari 21-17, 17-24, 24-20; V. Mithra bt Samruddhi Ghadigaonkar 23-8, 22-8; L. Keerthana bt Ambika Harith 22-11, 17-9.