The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ZEEL Desai and Hamish Stewart captured the women and men singles titles for India and Scotland respectively as the tennis competition at the sixth Commonwealth Youth Games came to a close at the National Tennis Centre yesterday.

Desai, the top seeded player in the women's draw, pulled off a 6-3, 7-6 (6) win over Eliza Omirou of Cyprus to clinch her title. The bronze went to England's Indianna Spink, who didn't have to play after her opponent, Minette Van Vreden of South Africa, was unable to play because of an injury she sustained in her semi-final match on Saturday. "I did really well. I was very confident in myself. I really wanted a gold medal for India," Desai said. "So I played my best today and I won it."

Desai said it was a very good feeling for her to come to the Bahamas and win the title. She said it was even sweeter to team up with Siddhant Banthia to take the mixed doubles with a 6-4, 6-2 decision over Cyprus' team of Elefterios Neos and Eliza Omirou about a hour later. "Thanks to my partner for believing in me, we did it too," she said. "It was just good to win the two titles."

The mixed doubles bronze medal match didn't have to play after Wales' team of James Story and Morgan Cross won via a walkover against South Africa's Siphosothando Montsi and Vreden.

The men's singles title went to Stewart with an identical score of 6-4, 6-4 over James Story of Wales.

"This was nothing like I ever played in before, so obviously, I had to be very careful," said Stewart of the melting hot sun. "I brought a lot of ice with me to keep myself kind of cool whenever possible.

"I was really happy that I won because there were a lot of good players here. This tournament was ran so well, beautiful place. I couldn't ask for a better place for this to be held. I'm so happy that I won it here."

The men's bronze medal went to Siddhant Banthia of India with his 6-2, 6-0 win over Eleftherios Neos of Cyprus.

The Bahamas had two competitors entered in the tournament but Donte Armbrister got eliminated in the second round of the men's singles and Isabel Donaldson got ousted in the first round of the women's singles. The duo combined to play in the mixed doubles but they didn't advance out of the first round.