Lim thumps Indian, sweeps ITF-Pathak tilt

ALBERTO Lim Jr. overwhelmed Indian seventh seed Kumar Nitin Sinha, 6-2, 6-2, yesterday and completed a rare sweep of the boys’ singles titles in the Ajay Pathak Memorial/Asia 14-under tennis championships at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

With the weather cooperating after downpours marred Thursday’s semifinal play, the 13-year-old Lim matched his victory in Week 1 of the twin tournament without yielding a single service game or set.

Against Sinha, the burly Lim needed just 45 minutes to wrap things up.

“I’m very happy to achieve the sweep. This will help me a lot in my goal to make the world’s top 100,” said Lim, who is scheduled to compete in much tougher ITF junior events abroad.

In Week 1, Lim bested Rakpuangchon Vorachon of Thailand for the title, before topping the boys doubles in tandem with Cebuano ace Jan Godfrey Seno.

Lim missed a title double this time as he and Seno bowed to Sinha and Vorachon in the doubles finals, 7-5, 6-1.

In girls’ action, fifth seed Mihika Yadav of India pulled the rug from under compatriot, top seed and Week 1 champ Himani Mor, 6-0, 6-2, to bag the crown.

“I’m happy I didn’t disappoint my coach because he encouraged me to do good here,” Lim, the world’s No. 407th junior, said of mentor Manny Tecson.

On the way to the finals, Lim downed Vietnam’s Nguyen Dac Tien (6-1, 6-1),  Indian fifth seed Vashist Cheruku (6-1, 6-2) and Thai Charles Roberts (6-1, 6-0). He had an opening-round bye.

The tournament, held in honor of the late ITF and Philta official Ajay Pathak, was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Technifibre Balls, Wilkins, Mariposa Foundation, Cebuana Lhuillier, Chowking and Trans-Asia Corp.