Kaavya Sawhney overpowers Humera Shaik in tennis at Khelo India Games

Second seed Humera Shaik of Telangana was Tuesday knocked out in the girls' Under-21 tennis event by Kaavya Sawhney of Uttar Pradesh during the Khelo India Games here. Meanwhile, in the boys Under-17 quarter-finals, Maharashtra's Aryaan Bhatia upset top seed Ajay Malik of Haryana 6-4, 6-4. Joining him in the last four was Sushant Dabas of Haryana, who beat Kisan Hooda of Chandigarh 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, a media release said.

In the other quarter-finals, Gurustat Makkar of Chandigarh lost to Krish Patel of Gujarat 2-6, 2-6 and the later will now face Divesh Gahlot of Haryana who beat Gujarat's Dev Javia 6-4, 6-2. Kaavya defeated Humera by a 6-3, 6-2 margin as her powerful serve and relentless returning proved too much for Humera. In other quarter-final action, top seed Mahak Jain of Madhya Pradesh was up against Vaidehi Chaudhari of Gujarat.

India no. 5 surprising trailed 3-5 in the first set having dropped serve, but used all her experience and broke Vaidehi back immediately to restore parity before holding serve and then breaking Vaidehi a second time for the set. Mahak took 24 minutes to win the second set to cruise into the semi-finals by a 7-5, 6-3 margin. She will now meet third seed Zeel Desai of Gujarat who defeated Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty of Telangana 6-1, 6-3.

Girls Singles U-21 Quarterfinal Results: Mahak Sain(MP) bt Vaidehi Chaudhari(GJ) 7-5,6-3 Kaavya Sawhney(UP) bt Humera Shaik(TS) 6-3,6-2 Zeel Desai(GJ) bt Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty(TS) 6-0,6-0 Mihika Yadav(MH) bt Kaavya Balasubramanian(TN) 6-0,6-2 Boys Singles U-17 Quarterfinal Results: Sushant Dabas(HR) bt Kisan Hooda(CHD) 3-6,7-5,6-2 Aryaan Bhatia(MH) bt Ajay Malik(HR) 6-4,6-4 Krish Patel(GJ) bt Gurustat Makkar(CHD) 6-2,6-2 Divesh Gahlot(HR) bt Dev Javia(GUJ) 6-4,6-2.

(With inputs from agencies.)