Kajal Kumari wins combined Swiss league in World Cup

It was woman power to the fore, with a touch of finesse, as 20-year-old Kajal Kumari tamed a 86-member field, that included 55 men, by scoring a maximum of 14 points from seven rounds in the Swiss league of the fifth Carrom World Cup in Chuncheon, Korea, on Saturday.

Published : Aug 25, 2018 20:33 IST , New Delhi

Kajal Kumari, who emerged the combined Swiss league champion in the fifth Carrom World Cup in Korea, on Saturday.
Kajal Kumari, who emerged the combined Swiss league champion in the fifth Carrom World Cup in Korea, on Saturday.
lightbox-info

Kajal Kumari, who emerged the combined Swiss league champion in the fifth Carrom World Cup in Korea, on Saturday.

It was woman power to the fore, with a touch of finesse, as 20-year-old Kajal Kumari tamed a 86-member field, that included 55 men, by scoring a maximum of 14 points from seven rounds in the Swiss league of the fifth Carrom World Cup in Chuncheon, Korea, on Saturday.

“I am happy to win a tough competition as there are so many good players from India and Sri Lanka,’’ said Kajal, when contacted in Korea. The former National champion and five-time Federation Cup champion, Kajal had emerged the ICF Cup champion two years ago in the international arena. In the last World Championship she had placed ninth.

In topping the league, with all rounds played through the course of a day, Kajal beat the reigning World Champion Chamil Cooray of Sri Lanka, and also the India No.1 Riyaz Akbarali.

Interestingly, it was the first time a woman was winning the combined event in the history of the game. Kajal, who works with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in Bandra, said that she was confident about her game, especially after having made the women’s doubles final with compatriot S. Apoorva the previous day.

In the league, played in a format of 45 minutes, 25 points and eight boards, whichever is earlier, four players tied for the second spot with 12 points. Chaml Cooray placed second, and K. Sagayabharathi was third on the basis of their better net score. Prashant More and Azim Ali of Maldives were fourth and fifth respectively.

The competition, featuring 17 countries, including Switzerland, Korea, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, France, Germany, US, Poland and Serbia, will continue with the team championship for men and women on Sunday. It will be followed by the individual event for the two categories subsequently.

The results

Combined Swiss league: 1. Kajal Kumari (14); 2. Chamil Cooray (Sri) 12(83); 3. K. Sagayabharathi 12(73); 4. Prashant More 12 (84); 5. Azil Ali (Mdv) 12 (84); 6. Zaheer Pasha 10 (81); 7. Riyaz Akbarali 10 (80); 10. Rashmi Kumari 10 (77); 15. Aysha Mohammed 10 (72); 20. S. Apoorva.

Men’s doubles (quarterfinals): Chamil Coooray and Nishanta Fernando (Sri) bt Shibu Josse and Deep Joshi (US) 23-0, 20-12; Zaheer Pasha & K. Sagayabharathi bt Nazim Hasssan and Azim Ali (Mdv) 25-12, 25-5; Shaheed Hilmy and Udesh Perera bt Pierre Dubois & Fabian Pereira (Fra) 25-5, 25-20; Riyaz Akbar Ali & Prashant More bt Yousuff Ameeer Khan and Khaleel Shafiulla Khan (Qat) 25-0, 25-0.

Women’s doubles (semifinals): Rashmi Kumari & Aisha Mohammed bt Maduka Dilshani & Chalani Liyanage (Sri) 24-7, 20-10; S. Apoorva & Kajal Kumari bt Yasika Rahubaddha & Roshita Josseph (Sri) 22-13, 17-13.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment