Sameera, Nilansh win MSSA U-16 carrom titles

Champions Sameera Salunke and Nilansh Chipalunkar (right) yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble

Sameera Salunke, 16, and Nilansh Chipalunkar, 14, of Vanita Vishram High School, Girgaum, emerged champions among U-16 girls and boys respectively in the MSSA inter-school carrom tournament at the Dr Antonio Da Silva High School hall, Dadar, on Thursday.

In the finals, Sameera defeated Siddhi Patel of Swami Vivekanand International School (Kandivli) 16-4 while Nilansh prevailed over Mayuresh Kirve of IES Modern (Dadar) 11-2. Sameera, a former U-12 champion, was happy to get an opportunity to play competitive matches.

"Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there were no tournaments. I am glad MSSA organised this. My parents [dad Abhishek and mum Arpita] have been very encouraging," Sameera told mid-day. Nilansh, also a winner of the MSSA U-12 title, is grateful to his parents.

"My dad [Hiten] has been practising with me a lot and that has helped me do well in various tournaments, including the sub-junior Nationals, inter-district and DSO events. My mum [Yogita] is very supportive too," said Nilansh.

Meanwhile, Srujana Bhoga of IES Modern English School (Dadar) beat Aditi Salunkhe of IES Orion, (Dadar) 19-3 to win the girls U-14 title while Kastubh Gagushte of DPYA (Dadar) overcame Vedant Rane of Universal HS 7-4 in the boys U-14 final.