Mumbai: Unseeded Jeetendra Kale of Mumbai caused the upset of the tournament by knocking out the former world and national champion Yogesh Pardesi of Pune in a pulsating three-game encounter with 9-25, 25-7, 25-7 scoreline to enter pre-quarter-final round of the men singles event in the 11th Maharashtra State Ranking Prize Money Carrom Tournament at Shivaji Park Gymkhana, Dadar.
In another fifth round match, unseeded Amol Sawardekar of Mumbai prevailed over former national champion Sanjay Mande of Mumbai in a straight-games encounter with 25-9, 25-19 scoreline. In another two-game encounter, Sandeep Dive of Mumbai overcame Mohsin Sayyad of Jalgaon with 25-19, 25-13 scoreline.
Second-seeded former world No. 2 Mohd. Ghufran of Mumbai easily defeated Ishtiaq Ansari of Mumbai-Sub 25-6, 25-8 to advance further. Nissar Ahmed of Dhule overcame Ajim Kazi of Mumbai -Sub 25-11, 25-12 in straight games to enter next Round.
In women singles pre-quarter-final match, national youth champion Maitrayee Gogate of Ratnagiri Snuffed out the challange by former state champion Shilpa Pallitkar of Mumbai 21-25, 25-18, 25-9 in a three game duel. In another match, top seeded ICF Cup winner Kajal Kumari of Mumbai blanked Apurva Nachankar of Ratnagiri 25-8, 25-6 in straight games to advance further.
Sneha More of Mumbai also overcame former national champion and nine time state champion Anupama Kedar of Mumbai 25-17, 25-10. Second-seeded former SAARC & State Champion Ayesha Mohd. of Mumbai blanked Shruti Sonawane of Palghar 25-5, 25-0 in straight games.
