India's Isha Lakhani committed far too many errors and went down in straight sets to Indonesian opponent Sandy Gumulya in the singles final of the US $25,000 NECC-ITF women's event in Pune on Saturday.
Second seeded Gumulya defeated the eighth seed 6-3, 7-5 to take home the winner's purse of US $2,940 while Isha pocketed US $1,666.
The Indonesian woman, ranked 263 in the world, outsmarted the left-handed 431st-ranked 22-year-old Mumbaikar at the Deccan Gymkhana courts.
Gumulya was in her element in the final and caught Isha on the wrong foot on several occasions. Added to that the Indian failed to capitalise on the few chances that came her way.
In the first set, Gumulya earned a break in the sixth game before claiming it 6-3.
Isha fought back well in the second and twice went ahead, but her weak backhand let her down at crucial stages.
Isha saved five match points before finally hitting a forehand wide to help Gumulya clinch the set and match at 7-5.
The Indonesian said she was lucky to come through.
"My serves were not perfect. She was hitting the ball well," Sandy said after her victory.
Isha rued the missed opportunities and said, "I failed to capitalise on the chances I had."
