Leading Odisha tennis player Nemha Sarah Kispotta won her maiden AITA womens title at the age of 16, defeating renowned West Bengal opponent Yubrani Banerjee in the final of the Gurukul AITA-OTA 1 Lakh Tournament at Gurukul Resorts Tennis Complex, Mendhashal, Bhubaneswar today.

Unseeded Nemha was declared winner as second seed Yubrani conceded the match while trailing 2-4 in the first set. Earlier in the semifinal, top seed Shimreen Ahamed (West Bengal) also conceded the match due to injury with the first set level at 4-4. By winning the title, Nemha gained 20 AITA ranking points.

Also today, three other Odisha players missed titles in different AITA tournaments. Among the three, Aahaan Mishra became boys doubles runners-up in the AITA U-14 Super Series Tennis Tournament held in Jassowal, Punjab.

Aahaan, partnering Aryaveer Sharma of Punjab, lost to Anuj Sharda (UP) and partner Atharva Shukla (Maharashtra) 4-6, 4-6 in the finals. Aahan earned 40 AITA doubles ranking points.

Odisha duo Amrutjay Mohanty and Aditya Mohapatra finished doubles runners-up in the AITA-OTA Mens 1 Lakh Tennis Tournament, which concluded at KT Global School, Barunei, Khordha (Odisha) today.

West Bengal-Nagaland combination of Mohammad Fardeen and Khate Vilasier won the title, defeating Amrutjay and Aditya in the final 6-1, 2-6, 10-6 in super tie-breaker.
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PHOTO: Odisha girl Nemha Sarah Kispotta poses with her first AITA Womens title at Gurukul Resorts, Mendhashal, Bhubaneswar on 2 June 2023.