INDORE: Maharashtra and Karnataka retained their titles of mens and womens category respectively in the 34th All India Senior Kho-Kho Championship which concluded at the Happy Wonderers Ground here on Wednesday.

Holders Maharashtra beat Karnataka by 18-13 while in the womens event holders Karnataka defeated Maharashtra by a solitary point (10-9).Parag Ambekar who played 2 minutes and 1.20 minutes and Rajesh Patre who played 1.40 and 1.25 minutes in both innings earned 3 points each for Mahashtra. Ajay Dandekar and Shailesh Gurav were other prominent players who played 1.20 min and 1.10 minutes respectively and remained not out.

Maharasthra's Kirti Mahatre was awarded Rani Jhansi Award and W Deepak of Karnataka was given ``Eklavya Award'' for their outstanding performance.

Birla Awards

NEW DELHI: Indian tennis spearheads Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and National women's badminton champion and former World junior championship runner-up Aparna Popat have beenselected for the K K Birla Foundation Awards for Sports for the year 1997-98.