Aniruddha Sukale in title round

Swetha Joshi entered the cadet girls final after rallying to beat Manasi Bhagwat, the top seed, 13-21, 21-16, 23-21. She will play Rajuta Rege who was also taken to three sets by Madhurika Patkar before winning 21-13, 17-21, 21-15 in the other semifinal.

Madhu Sawant won the veteran’s singles title with a 21-13, 14-21, 21-15 win over Percy Mehta. Sawant beat Dilip Adhav, the top seed, 21-19, 21-19 to make the final. Mehta got the better Suhas Andekar, seeded second, 21-15, 21-18.

Sahil Kukreja, Aditya Mahagoankar, Eric Fernandes and Mihir Walawalkar made the sub-junior boys semifinals.

Kukreja beat Amey Aroskar 21-9, 21-15, 22-20, Mahagaonkar also won in straight games over Samik Pal 21-11, 21-14, 21-11.

Fernandes needed four games after losing the first, before prevailing 18-21, 21-11, 21-19, 21-8 and so did Walawalkar who beat Vasjit Meshta 21-12, 16-21, 21-13, 22-20.

Mugdha Kanade booked her semifinal slot in the girls’ sub-junior section with 21-10, 21-14, 21-13 victory over Varada Bal. Joining her into the last four are Madhurika Patkar, 21-19, 21-12, 21-19 victor over Shweta Joshi, Prachiti Joshi who beat Manasi Bhagwat 21-19, 19-21, 21-14, 21-10.

Rinku Suchak completed the semifinal line-up with a hard-fought 15-21, 21-12, 21-16, 8-21, 22-20 win over Rujuta Rege the fourth seed.

RESULTS

Men’s team event: QFs: Matunga Gym bt Proctor YMCA 3-0; RCF bt Central Railway Sports Assocaition `B’ 3-0; BSES bt Ghatkopar SC 3-0; Central Bank of India bt Central Railway Sports Association `A’ 3-1.

Chand scores all four

Rupendra Chand scored all four goals to spur Don Bosco Youth Centre (Kurla) to a 4-0 win over Xavier’s (Vile Parle) and make the semi-finals of the Open football tournament organised by the St Xavier’s Ex-Students Association at the School Ground, today.

Don Bosco set a fast pace and with their forwards combining well took the lead in the 15th minute. Chand anticipating well, accepted Bala Jeena’s pass before beating Xavier’s goalkeeper Wenzil Moraes from close range. Five minutes later Chand made it 2-0 with a powerful shot after latching on to Lancer Mendonca.

Taking their two-goal advantage into the second half, Don Bosco refused to relent and Chand duly completed his hat-trick and added his fourth shortly later.

Another hat-trick marked Royal Caterers 4-0 win over Borivli Rangers in the quarter-finals. Hasmukh Baria scored three goals with Caitano Fernandes adding a fourth.

Income-Tax drub SBI

Two goals by Rocky Bassra and one each by Neil D’Costa and Rajesh Pendurkar brought Income-Tax a 4-0 win over State Bank of India in a WIFA Senior Division football match at the Cooperage, today. The winners led 2-0 at half-time.

D’Assisi edged past Goans FA 3-2 in a First Division encounter with goals by Sameer Bhosle, Arun D’Souza and Tyron Kingsellers. Savio Dias and Jinto Jose scored for Goans who trailed 0-2 at half-time.

Shushu Vikas prevail

Shushu Vikas SC booked a quarter-final berth in the JC Maitra Cup MDFA football tournament with a penalty shootout 3-2 win over Young Challengers at the St Xavier’s Ground (Parel), today. There was no score at full-time in an encounter dominated by Young Challengers, who did everything but score.

The Kambles — Sushas, Ravi and Sailesh accounted for the winners’ goals in the shootout with Hemant Parat and Mangesh Bagare being the scorers for Young Challengers.

Goalkeepers of either side shone with Suhas Kamble of Shushu Vikas effecting three saves and Sachin Bhosle of Young Challengers bringing off two.

Mathew Lobo passes away

Mathew Lobo, former junior Maharashtra football and hockey player, passed away today after a brief illness. Lobo was the father of Baptist Lobo who plays for Income-Tax in the MDFA local leagues. The funeral leaves his Dhobi Talao residence at 4.00 p.m.