Flying start to Rukmini Bai tourney

Hyderabad: A bigger and more exciting seventh edition of Rukmini Bai table tennis, chess, carroms and volleyball inter-school tournament, under the aegis of Rukmini Bai Sports Academy, began at Secunderabad Public School here on Thursday.
The annual event’s popularity rose by several notches as more than 400 players drawn from over 70 schools are vying for honours in the three-day extravaganza.

India’s rising table tennis international Akula Sreeja and Group Chairman P Madhusudhan Rao formally inaugurated the table tennis competition to mark the commencement.

He reiterated the management’s avowed quest to develop a vibrant sports culture, a mission that has been made specific to Rukmini Bai Sports Academy. He said the introduction of volleyball as a competitive event was a step in this direction.
School principal J Sujata gave a detailed report about the institution’s participation and performances in sports events held in the city for different age-groups.

Also present on the occasion were A Narasimha Rao, President of Hyderabad District Table Tennis Association, veteran paddler D Ajay Kumar, Organising Secretary M Lakshmikanth, Director Shilpa Ravi, Administrator Kavita and Academic Director MM Augustine.

Select results: Team events-Junior Boys-Semifinals: St Paul’s School ‘A’ bt Chirec ‘B’ 3-0; Chirec ‘A’ bt St Paul’s ‘B’ 3-0; Quarterfinals: St Paul’s HS ‘A’ bt DPS Kajaguda ‘B’ 2-0; Prakasam Vidya Niketan HS bt All Saints ‘C’ 2-0; Chirec ‘B’ bt St Paul’s ‘C’ 2-1; Senior boys-Semifinals: Chirec ‘B’ bt Chirec ‘C’ 3-0; Quarterfinals: Meridian Madhapur bt St Paul’s ‘A’ 2-1; Chirec ‘B’ bt St Paul’s ‘B’ 2-0; Chirec ‘C’ bt GIIS ‘B’ 2-0; Chirec ‘A’ bt St Paul’s ‘B’ 3-0.