CHANDIGARH, March 6: On a day when walkovers galore, defending champions Allahabad University, Allahabad blanked Andhra University, Waltair 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals in the men's section on the inaugural day of the All India Inter-University men and women badminton championship at Panjab University Indoor Hall here today.Allahabad players, who exuded confidence on the eve of the meet, proved far better than their opponents in all the departments of the game.Amit Mehrotra gave his team a flying start by winning the first singles, when he beat DS Truman 15-6, 15-4. Amit, who did not have to sweat to score victory over his rival, took just 15 minutes to wrap up the contest. Amit's jump shots and cross court proved to much for Truman, whose only consolation in the match was to gain points when his opponent committed mistakes.In the second singles, Uttsav Mishra, skipper of the team consolidated the margin by defeating GL Naryana 15-5, 15-4.Uttsav covered the court with lighting speed and gave his opponent a run for his money. Right from the word go, Uttsav was in commanding position and as the match progressed, he did not allow any breathing space to Naryana, who moved leaden footed.In doubles Amit and Uttsav were no match for the Andhra pair of M Sri Krishna and D Shiva Naga Raju. The former with their telling smashes and better court craft took the first game at 15-0. However, in the second game the Andhra shuttlers narrowed the lead to one point (5-4). However, they were unable to sustain their efforts and gave away the game and the contest.Allahabad will face BRA, Bihar, winner of silver medal in the South Zone meet, in their quarterfinal encounter.In the other match of the day in the men's category, Calicut University, Calicut made short work of Delhi University, Delhi 3-0 to enter the last eight stage of the meet.Sanave Thomas of Calicut scored a facile 15-2, 15-4 win over Subhash Rawat while in the second singles Diju V beat Ajay Rathi 15-8, 15-4 to take 2-0 lead. In the doubles Sanav Thomas and Biju Mohan Babu outplayed Subhash Rawat and Ajay Rathi 15-7, 8-15, 15-3.In the women's section no match was possible as most of the team's who were scheduled to play, failed to turn up at the venue making it a dull affair. Even in the men's category out of four encounters, only two were contested.
