(From top) Nidhi Surapannai and Shakti Ray with the trophies and officials and players pose for a photo shoot. Pictures by Uttam Kumar Pal

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 6: The five-day All India Tennis Association (AITA) Talent Series being held at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela concluded today.

Hosted by the Rourkela Tennis Association, which is an affiliate of the Orissa Tennis Association, the tournament was conducted in the Under-14 and Under-16 boys and girls categories. More than 50 participants from West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Assam and Orissa took part in the tourney.

Nidhi Surapannai of Andhra Pradesh was declared winner in both Under-14 and Under-16 girls’ category. G.S. Vasavi of Tamil Nadu and Tanmayee Patnaik of Orissa finished runners up in the Under-14 and Under-16 girls’ category respectively. On the other hand, Shakti Ray and Abhilash Mishra made the state proud by bagging the first and second positions in the Under-14 as well as in Under-16 boys’ category.

Earlier, top seed Shakti registered easy wins in both the Under-14 and Under-16 singles semi-finals against Nishant Kumar of Bihar. Runners-up Abhilash Mishra had defeated Ekalavya Singh of Jharkhand and state-mate Snehanshu Sadangi in the semi-finals in the Under-14 and Under-16 category, respectively. In the Under-14 girls’ singles semi-finals, top seed Nidhi beat Koyal Mishra of Orissa in straight sets. But in the Under-16 last-four round, she faced stiff competition from another participant from Orissa, Komal Vishakha in straight sets. In an exciting semi-final clash, Vasavi fought hard to beat top-ranking opponent Tanmayee.

The tournament was earlier inaugurated by DIG of police, western zone, Y.K. Jethwa on January 3. Along with the RTA officials, the chief guest, D.D. Atal, ED of OCL India, and the guest of honour, Ravinder, CRPF commandant, gave away the trophies.