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Nirupama out, Bhupathi and Srinath through

C N R Vijaykumar in Bangkok

India's bid for a medal in the women's tennis event of the ongoing Asiad ended today when Nirupama Vaidyanathan crashed at the quarterfinal stage.

However, Davis Cup-pers Mahesh Bhupathi and Prahlad Srinath kept the hopes alive in the men's singles by moving to the quarterfinals without much ado.

While Mahesh beat Bryan Junio of the Philippines 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, Srinath downed Wei Ju of Chinese Taipei 6-4, 7-5.

Nirupama, who raised quite a few eyebrows yesterday by registering an upset win against fancied Janet Whides Lee of Chinese Taipei in straight sets, could not continue her winning vein as second seed Li Fang proved to be too good for her. Fang won 6-1, 6-2.

Nirupama could hardly get over the powerful Li Fang who played remarkably well and ensured a passage to the semifinals. Nirupama sparkled only in patches but that was not enough to contain her formidable rival.

Li Fang broke Nirupama's first serve itself and retained her two serves to race to a 3-0 lead in the first set. The Indian's serves posed no problems to Fang who was outstanding in her forehand cross-court smashes.

Nirupama managed to retain her serve only in the fourth game. But that's all she could do as her opponent won the next four games on the trot to take the first set 6-1.

In the second set, Nirupama started better and won the first two games quickly and took the next to deuce. The Indian tried every trick there was, but a determined Li won the second set also at 6-2 to enter the medal round.

In the men's singles, Srinath played brilliantly today against his rival from Chinese Taipei. With better courtcraft, he served well and won maximum points through his first service. He had four aces as against five by Wei Ju Chen. Srinath was strong both in forehand and backhand returns.

In the other match, Mahesh had a tough time against Bryan Junio in the first set that went to the tie-breaker, at which the Indian prevailed 7-4. But the second set saw him in his elements as he crushed the Filipino player 6-2 to move to the quarterfinals in which he will have to take on the winner of the tie between Danai Udomchoke of Thailand and Oleg Ogordov of Uzbekistan.

Srinath will play against the winner of the match between Man Ghung Tong of Hong Kong and Vadim Kutsenko of Uzbekistan.

UNI