Chatsworth Pair at End of Long Road

When Rajeev Datt and Justin Sherring walk out on the Racquet Centre courts in Universal City today, not only will they have the support of any Chatsworth High student or alumni in attendance, but the Chancellors’ doubles team also may hear cheers from any Indian, Briton, Canadian, Libyan or Oklahoman who comes to watch the City Section individual championships.

Datt and Sherring will play North Hollywood’s David Kaiden and Natt Narkthong in the doubles championship at 2:30 p.m. And the Chancellor duo, the No. 2-seeded team in the tournament, will have traveled a considerable distance to reach their final destination.

Datt was born in India, and, after living in London for four years, moved with his family to Libya, Canada and then Oklahoma before settling in Chatsworth in the summer of 1985.

Sherring was born and raised in London, moved to the Canary Islands last year and then to Chatsworth last August.

And although the two may be worlds apart off the court, on it they have formed an alliance.

“On the court, we understand each other,” Datt said. “We work fine together. There’s good communication.”

Sherring was Chatsworth’s No. 1 singles player throughout the season, but when the tournament started he decided to team with Datt, who had been playing doubles.

“I had a good season, but I was being realistic. I didn’t think I’d win the individual title,” Sherring said. “I thought with the doubles it would be more realistic to win.”

And now they are only one win from a championship.

“I expect to win,” Datt said. “I have confidence in my partner so there is no reason to expect we won’t win.”

Said Sherring: “I think we can beat them. We’re not going to be ignorant. We’re going in respecting them, but we’re going in confident.”

University’s Vince Mackey and Jason Clark will meet for the singles title.