Pune’s Tushal Thawani , Arjun Kadhe , Mumbai’s Anamitra Chakravarthy , Snehadevi Reddy, Vaidehi Bhagwat of Mumbai and Prathana Thombare of Barshi lifted titles in their respective events at the V P Ogale Memorial – MSLTA Junior Tennis Masters jointly conducted by MSLTA & Deccan Gymkhana, which concluded at the Deccan Gymkhana, Pune.

In the finals of the Boys under 14 event top seeded Tushal Thawani of Pune capped the year with an memorable win outplaying city mate and fifth seeded Rakshay Thakkar 6-2, 6-0 for the title and the winners scholarship purse of Rs 15000 while Thakkar received Rs 7500 for his effort , in the girls under 14 event top seeded Vaidehi Bhagwat of Mumbai , stopped the winning run of Pune’s Sanaa Sohoni winning 6-1, 6-3 . Bhagwat received Rs 10,000 as the winners scholarship while Sohoni received Rs 6000.

Arjun Kadhe displayed grit and determination to outhit Vishal PAssi of Mumbai 6-1, 6-2 for the Boys under 12 title and winners purse of Rs 15000, while Passi had to be content with Rs 7500 /- for his effort of making it to the finals. In the Girls under 12 event Pratharna Thombre of Barshi created the biggest upset of the day when she knocked out top seed Riddhi Hegde of Mumbai 7-5, 6-1 for the title and winners purse of RS 10000. Hegde who had an excellent run in the tournament had to be content with Rs 5000.

In the Boys under 10 event Mumbai’s Anamitra Chakravorty won the title defeating Nikhil Passi also of Mumbai 4-2, 4-2 and winning the top prize o Rs 6000/- his biggest prize so far, while Passi received Rs 3000 for reaching the finals. In the Girls under 10 event tiny Snehadevi Reddy won all her matches she played at the event knocking off a much taller Rutuja Bhosale of Pune 4-1,4-0 for the title and winners purse of RS 5000/- , while Bhosale received a prize of Rs 3000 . Both Reddy and Chakravorthy also created record of sorts winning all the seven tournaments they played so far.

The tournament carried a total scholarship amount of RS 150000 for the first time in a junior event in the state and was sponsored by Mr. Avi Ogale a tennis enthusiast in memory of his father V.P Ogale. The prizes were given away at the hands of Jyotsna Ogale and Mr. Sharad Kannamwar Hon Sec MSLTA. The tournament director Mr. Anand Tulpule welcomed the guests, while Sunder Iyer proposed the vote of thanks. Hon secretary of Deccan Gymkhana Vishwas Lokare and Tennis secretary Mr. Nitin Joshi were also present on the occasion.

Following are firnal results: Boys Under 14: Tushal Thawani (1, Pune) bt Rakshay Thakkar (5, Pune) 6-2, 6-0 Boys Under 12: Arjun Kadhe (1, Pune) bt Vishal Passi (3, Mum) 6-1, 6-2, Boys Under 10: Anamitra Chakravarty (1, Mum) bt Nikhil Passi (3, Mum) 4-2, 4-2, Girls Under 14: Vaidehi Bhagwat (1, Mum) bt Sanaa Sohoni (8, Pune) 6-1, 6-3, Girls Under 12: Prathana Thombare(4, Barshi)bt Ridhi Hegde (1, Mumbai) 7-5, 6-1, Girls Under 10: Snehadevi Reddy (1, Mumbai) bt Rutuja Bhosale (5, Pune) 4-1, 4-0.