Two Indian pairs in semis

Two Indian pairs advanced to the semi-finals of the doubles competition in the first leg of the ITF International Junior (under-18) tennis tournament in Islamabad, on Thursday.

In the girls' quarter-finals, Shweta Kakhandaki and Poojashree Venkatesh beat the Sri Lankan pair of Amita Arudpragasam and Thiyumi Abey Singhe 6-0, 6-1.

In the boys' quarter-finals, India's Sumit Gupta and Vivek Shokeen overcame a stiff challenge from the Thai-Sri Lankan pair of Peerakit Siributwong and Nishendiran Sivendran, to win 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.

However, the other Indians in contention failed to make it to the semi-finals.

Among the boys, Lalit Mann/Sandeep Kumar lost to Pakistan's Shahzad Khan and Wasif Cheema 3-6, 2-6, and Daksha Mulay, partnering Wannasuk Nunqnudda of Thailand, lost to the Thai duo of Punjaporn Ditthim/Punchanok Khunpitak 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.