Double delight for Jennifer in Brazil

Nagpur: Jennifer Varghese scored a morale boosting double triumph ahead of the Asian Championship in the WTT Youth Contender which concluded in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday.The 15-year-old city paddler emerged champion in the U-15 girls singles and mixed doubles events during her second international tour of the season. A week after she brought home a brace of silver medals from Peru, Jennifer looked determined to clinch gold medals in Brazil and she achieved her target in style.After recording a hard-fought 3-2 triumph in the U-15 mixed doubles event with Pradhivadhi Bhayankaram, Jennifer outplayed compatriot Sayanika Maji 3-1 to seal the singles title.The Indian pair of Jennifer and Pradhivadhi rallied from a game down to get the better of Brazilian duo of Julia Hatakeyama and Lucas Romanski in a thrilling summit clash 9-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-13, 11-9.Later, in the singles final, Jennifer outplayed Sayanika 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9 and completed her brace of gold medals in Brazil.In a chat with TOI, Jennifer said, “I had a great time during my international tour to Peru and Brazil. I won two silver medals in Peru and two gold medals in Brazil in doubles and individual game. Peru was tougher than Brazil as there were Korean and Chinese players as well. Overall, I am satisfied with my performance and am looking forward to the Asian Championship in Doha, which will be of a totally different level.”In the U-17 girls singles, Jennifer went down fighting in the quarterfinal stage when she lost to finalist Anna Hursey of Wales 4-11, 9-11, 7-11.Jennifer, who is being trained by R Rajesh at the ITTC Center in Chennai, qualified for the Asian Championship slated in Doha later this month after she won all five gold medals in the South Asian Youth table tennis championship in Arunachal Pradesh last month.RESULTSU-15 Girls Singles (Final): Jennifer Varghese bt Sayanika Maji 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9; Semifinal: Jennifer bt Riana Bhoota 13-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-4; Quarterfinal: Jennifer bt Maiara Agnone Sena Alves (Brazil) 11-5, 11-5, 11-4;Pre-quarterfinal: Jennifer bt Maria Fokubara (Brazil) 11-6, 11-2, 11-5.U-15 Mixed Doubles (Final): Jennifer Varghese & Pradhivadhi Bhayankaram bt Julia Hatakeyama & Lucas Romanski (Brazil) 9-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-13, 11-9;Semifinal: Jennifer & Pradhivadhi bt Abigail Menezes & Yamane Hamilton (Brazil) 11-8, 11-5, 11-2; Quarterfinal: Jennifer & Pradhivadhi bt Julia Leal (Portugal) & Steven Moreno (Puerto Rico) 11-7, 11-9, 11-5; Pre-quarterfinal: Jennifer & Pradhivadhi bt Natzumi Valentina & Antonio Jose (Peru) 11-5, 11-9, 11-4; Round of 32: Jennifer & Bhayankaram bt Bia Bueno & Luca Bueno (Brazil) 11-2, 11-5, 11-1.
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