Ashutosh, Ranjeet keep Indian challenge alive

NEW DELHI: Ashutosh Singh and national champion Ranjeet Virali Murugesan are heading towards a possible final showdown after fashioning contrasting wins to reach the singles semifinals of the $10,000 ITF men's Futures on Thursday.
Unseeded Ashutosh came from behind to oust fifth seed Rohan Gajjar 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in his quarterfinal while Ranjeet outplayed eighth seed Rupesh Roy 6-1, 6-2 in his last-eight stage match at the DLTA courts.
Ashutosh will take on sixth seed Japanese Kento Takeuchi, who edged past lucky loser Karunuday Singh 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 in a hard-fought match.
Ranjeet will clash with title favourite and second seed Korean Kim Young-Jun, who ended brilliant run of wild card J Nedunchezhiyan with a hard eared 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win.
Meanwhile, top seeded Ashutosh and Vishnu Vardhan set up the doubles title clash with second seeds Gajjar and Briton Chris Eaton.
Ashutosh and Vishnu had a tough time against unseeded compatriots Fariz Mohammed and V Peranamallur Chandrasekhar but prevailed 3-6, 6-2, 10-6 in the semifinals.
The second seeds also had to toil hard to beat fourth seeds N Prashanth and Mithun Murali 6-1, 4-6, 10-5 in their last-four stage match.