BANGKOK, DEC 14: India's bid for a medal in women's tennis ended today when Nirupama Vaidyanathan crashed out from the quarter-finals of the 13th Asian Games, today.However, Davis cuppers Mahesh Bhupathi and Prahlad Srinath kept hopes alive in the men's singles by moving to the last-eight without much ado. While Mahesh beat Bryan Junio of the Philippines 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, Srinath downed Wei Ju of Chinese Taipei 6-4, 7-5.
Nirupama, who raised quite a few eyebrows yesterday by registering an upset win against fancied Janet Whides Lee of Chinese Taipei in straight sets, could not continue her winning vein as second seed Li Fang proved to be too good for her. Fang won 6-1, 6-2.
In the other match, Mahesh had tough time against Bryan Junio in the first set that went to the tie-breaker where he prevailed 7-4.
Gopichand up, Aparna out
India's Pullela Gopichand breezed into the third round of the men's singles but his woman counterpart Aparna Popat came unstuck at the first hurdle to bow out inthe 13th Asian Games badminton competition here today.
The 25-year-old National champion Gopichand beat Park Sung-Wooo of South Korea 17-15, 15-2.
Aparna Popat, recovering from injury, went down 7-11, 8-11 to Mee Feng of Malaysia.
Chetan Baboor in pre-quarter final
National champion Chetan Baboor scored a facile straight-games win over Wong Kuok-Fai of Macau in the second round to enter the pre-quarter finals of the men's singles of the Asian Games table tennis competition here today.
The 26-year-old Indian, coping with inadequate practice, being his country's lone representative, won 21-10, 21-18, 21-7.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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