NEW DELHI, July 4: Karnataka swimmers Rehan Poncha and Ambica N S Iyengar were crowned the boys and girls champions, respectively, while Maharashtra swept all three team titles in the 16th National Sub-junior Swimming Championship which concluded at the Talkatora pool here today. On the final day, which saw most of the events held under a steady drizzle, Maharashtra and Karnataka continued to battle it out as swimmers from the two states showcased their depth to share all the titles decided.Bangalore's Rehan Poncha completed his fourth victory by swimming to the 100 metres butterfly stroke clocking one minute 05.53 seconds, once again upstaging his lone rival Parikshit Shetty of Maharashtra. Shetty, however, reversed the position as he powered to victory in the 100 metres freestyle. The Mumbai swimmer clocked 1:00.01 with Poncha two strokes adrift in coming second at 1:00.56.
Ambica once again underlined the strength she packed in her small frame as she won the girls 100m freestyle in 1:05.81, pushing Maharashtra's Shruti Reddy (1:06.42) to the second spot.
Manshi Shelke claimed the girls 100m butterfly ahead of Shruti Reddy in a one-two finish for Maharashtra.
Maharashtra reigned supreme in the relay events, winning the 4x50 metres freestyle relay in both sections. Parikshit Shetty and Shruti Reddy did a brilliant anchoring job to stave off a close fight from Rehan Poncha and Ambika, respectively.
Maharashtra won the boys (84 points), girls (80) and overall championships (257) while Poncha (42) and Ambika (41) took the boys and girls individual titles.
In the diving competition, Nasik boy Swaraj J Patil proved the star as he completed his third victory by claiming the high board event with 211.80 points in the sub-junior section.
Bengal's Suparna Paul also stamped her supremacy by claiming her third title in the girls' group I after winning the one-metre spring board event today.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.