National 9-Ball Pool: Shruthi Beats Natasha For Junior Girls Title; Aarav Sancheti Wins Boys’ Crown

Ludhiana (Punjab), April 1: Tamil Nadu’s L Shruthi weathered a mid-match fightback from Natasha Chethan of Karnataka en route to her maiden junior girls’ 9-ball pool National title here late on Tuesday evening.

The Coimbatore girl scored a 6-4 victory over the reigning champion in the final on her debut. This was the 18-year-old cueist’s second National crown in as many months. She won the junior snooker title in January.

Comeback and clinching moments

One of the most improved players on the circuit now, Shruthi jumped to a quick 3-0 lead in the race-to-6 affair. However, Natasha fought back in fine fashion, winning four racks in a row to take a 4-3 lead.

It could have easily been 5-3, but the Bengaluru cueist had the chance to close out the rack following Shruthi’s error on nine. Natasha missed it and the TN player closed it to draw level at 4-4.

Shruthi took the next without much ado and came up with two great shots following Natasha’s safety play on eight. Shruthi doubled it to the top right-hand pocket and cut the nine to the centre pocket to emerge triumphant.

Sancheti wins

In the junior boys’ event, Maharashtra’s Aarav Sancheti, who has been on a roll this season, outplayed Karnataka’s Laksh Sharma 7-3 in the title clash. The Pune youngster won a treble at the snooker and billiards Nationals in January.

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The 15-year-old, who won the inaugural Heyball Nationals last year, hardly broke a sweat in the final against Laksh, winning the race-to-7 final in a canter.

Results (9-ball pool)

Junior boys (Final): Aarav Sancheti (Mah) bt Laksh Sharma (Kar) 7-3.

Junior girls (Final): L Shruthi (TN) bt Natasha Chethan (Kar) 6-4.