Mumbai : Nine-year-old Nilansh Chiplunkar of Arun Kedar Foundation kicked off his campaign with a thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 win in the Bombay YMCA 4th Mumbai District Ranking Carrom Tournament, that was inaugurated by world champion Prashant More, at the Procter YMCA, Agripada.
Chiplunkar, a Std. IV student of Vanita Vishram School, Girgaum rallied to a 6-25, 25-18, 25-14 win over Shailesh Kharat of MLWB in an exciting first round contest. The MSSA under-12 and Sports For All champion delighted with a few brilliant shots including cutting in the queen at the top of the board on two occasions and a stunning black rebound that were the shots of the day.
Giridhar Rajula of Bombay Andhra Mahasabha overcame Yatesh Rathod of Boricha 17-25, 25-15, 25-14 in another tight first round encounter. MLWB duo Sandesh Kamble and Vineet Dadarkar and Sudharak Shirke of Central Railway were the other notable winners who also fired a break-to-finish each in their progress to the second round.
Defending champion Pankaj Pawar of Jain Irrigation, recently crowned winner in the 7th World Championship Prashant More of Reserve Bank of India, ICF Cup winner, national runner-up and state champion Riyaz Akbar Ali of Air India, world No. 2 Mohd. Ghufran of Indian Oil and former Asian and national champion Sandeep Deorukhkar of ONGC are among the star players in the men’s category.
Among the top ranking women in the competition are, national and state champion Kajal Kumari of Indian Oil, former national and state champion Anupama Kedar of Bank of India, former junior national champion Urmila Shendge of Reserve Bank, state champion Sangeeta Chandorkar of Reserve Bank, former SAARC and state champion Ayesha Mohammed and Youth National champion Maitreyee Gogate of Jain Irrigation.
