Ghufran, Sonali win Saraswat Chashak carrom titles in Mumbai

Mohammad Ghufran won the men's singles title and Sonali Kumari the women's singles at the first Saraswat Brahmin Samaj state-ranking carrom tournament held in Mumbai. The tournament was organised by the Saraswat Brahmin Samaj, Mumbai, with the recognition of the Maharashtra Carrom Association and the Mumbai District Carrom Association.

The men's singles final between Ghufran and Prashant More went to three sets. Ghufran won the first set 24-11, lost the second 10-25 and took the third 24-17. He received the Saraswat Chashak and a prize of Rs 25,000.

In the playoff for third place, Nilansh Chiplunkar of Mumbai edged past Abhijit Tripankar of Pune, with set scores of 25-23, 9-12 and 21-21.

In the women's singles final, Mumbai's Sonali Kumari impressed with her play against Keshar Nirgun of Sindhudurg. The match went to three sets. Sonali lost the first set 9-25 but won the second 25-17 and the third 19-17 to take the title. She received Rs 10,000 and the Saraswat Chashak. In the third-place match in the same category, Mumbai's Anjali Siripuram beat Mumbai's Mitali Pathak 21-24, 24-14, 25-10.

In the semifinals, among the men, Prashant More had beaten Nilansh Chiplunkar 21-8, 6-25, 25-10, and Mohammad Ghufran had beaten Abhijit Tripankar 25-17, 24-17. Among the women, Keshar Nirgun had beaten Mitali Pathak 2-18, 25-14, 25-4, and Sonali Kumari had beaten Anjali Siripuram 25-11, 25-13 to reach the final.

The winners were given cash prizes, the Saraswat Chashak and certificates by Kishor Ranganekar, former chairman of Saraswat Bank. Among those present were Arun Kedar, honorary secretary of the Maharashtra Carrom Association, Rajendra Desai, chief secretary of the Saraswat Brahmin Samaj, vice-president Subhash Kamat and executive member Ravindranath Bhangle.

Chief secretary Rajendra Desai expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the tournament. He said the aim was to hold the tournament every year.