Odisha duo Chinmay Pradhan and Santosh Kumar Mallik achieved a new feat for the state by winning the men`s doubles title for the first time in an All India Tennis Association (AITA) tournament at Raipur in Chhattisgarh yesterday.

Pradhan and his coach Mallik beat second seeded Andhra Pradesh combination of Taha Kapadia and Sivadeep Kosaraju 6-4, 4-6 10-4 in the final of the Rs 1 lakh prize-money tournament. Earlier in the semifinals, the Odisha pair stunned top seeds Abhijeet Tiwari and Garry Tokas (CG-Del) 6-4, 6-2.

Pradhan missed a title double as lost to Aditya Tewari (MP) 5-7, 0-6 in the singles final today. Earlier in the semifinals, top seed Pradhan thrashed Sivadeep Kosaraju (Telengana) 6-0, 6-2, while second seed Tewari prevailed over Taha Kapadia (AP) 6-3, 7-6(5).

Besides Pradhan and Mallik, five more Odisha players participated in the tournament. They were Avilash Mishra, Nishant Kumar, Adarsh Sahoo, Abhilash Chandra Sahoo and Purushottam Dash.
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PHOTO: Chinmay Pradhan (Left) and Santosh Mallik after winning the men’s doubles title in Raipur on April 30, 2015.