Maharashtra regain title

Maharashtra8217;s Salauddin Ansari, 29, outclassed Jagtar Singh Delhi in the open category.

Another State karateka to impress was R Sayanwala who scored over Senna Obaiah CRPF in the under-55 kg category final.

T Kumari Karnataka made a costly earlier of contacting her opponent Sharmila Gharu Maharashtra on the temple with a roundhouse kick in the women8217;s under 48 kg division kumite bout. The foul sealed the tie in Sharmila8217;s favour and made it a double for the Gharu couple. Earlier, her husband Ratan Gharu had pocketed the gold in the 60 to 65 kg category.

The men8217;s 60 to 65 sections saw a one-two finish for the State as Sajid Rakhangi claimed the silver, while Subhash Nair and Sailesh Anwekar, both ofMaharashtra, claimed the top two spots in the 55-60 kg category, respectively.

In the women8217;s team kata event the Maharashtra squad, comprising Sampada Patwardhan, Sucheta Bhatawadekar and Shibani Kulkarni, wrested the gold.

Shibani Kulkarni picked her second gold when she won the title in the women8217;s over 53 kg section with a fine show of controlled aggression over Sophia Joseph of Kerala in the final.

Rohan Satam, runner-up to Merwyn Fernandes in the State tourney, turned tables on Merwyn when he emerged best in the boys 11-13 years kumite.Anand Mane and Shahzad Parbhoo also made it a one-two affair for Maharashtra in the boys 13-15 years kata event.

Chandani Desai and Dhara Trivedi Maharashtra emulated the boys with a fine exhibition of grace and power to claim the gold and silver in the girls 11-13 years kata.

Sharmin Engineer claimed two bronze medals in the kata and kumite events for girls 13-15 years.