SENIOR BADMINTON
Sourabh beats Lakshay to complete hat-trick of titles
SAINA SLAYS SINDHU AGAIN
Guwahati, Feb. 16: Saina Nehwal beat P.V. Sindhu in straight games in a marquee clash to retain her women’s singles crown at the 83rd Yonex Sunrise Senior Badminton Nationals here on Saturday.
The three-time former champion Saina used her powerful smashes to telling effect, registering a 21-18, 21-15 win the summit clash against Sindhu, who herself is a two-time winner.
Earlier, Sourabh Verma completed a hat-trick of titles, claiming the men’s singles crown by defeating young Lakshya Sen in straight games. Saina and Sourabh went home richer by `3.25 lakh while Sindhu and Sen received a cheque of `1.70 lakh each.
“It was a good match and both of us played really well and it is a great feeling to win the nationals in such an atmosphere,” Saina, who has lost to Sindhu only once in international events at India Open 2017, said.
“Sindhu is playing at the highest level for quite sometime and we both are playing well and she is a very tough opponent. It was not a simple match, there were tough rallies and simple errors from her helped me to win.”
In a repeat of last edition’s final in Nagpur, 2012 Olympics bronze medalist Saina once again had the upper hand over Sindhu
Sindhu is playing at the highest level for quite sometime and we both are playing well and she is a very tough opponent. It was not a simple match, there were tough rallies and simple errors from her helped me to win SAINA NEHWAL,
during the exciting clash which was witnessed by a capacity crowed at the TRP Indoor stadium here.
Saina had defeated 2016 Rio Games silver medallist Sindhu at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games summit clash last year.
Sourabh, the 26-year-old from MP’s Dhar showed great composure and used his experience to outdo 17year-old
Lakshya for the second time at the senior national finals. He had beaten Lakshya, then 15, in February 2017.
“Winning the nationals for the first time (in 2011) is always special but this time also it was a great feeling. Lakshya is improving regularly and every time you have to be alert against him. It was my fourth final (lost in Patna Nationals) and third win,” he said.
“At 6-6 in first game, I had done unforced errors so I thought if I reduce my mistakes I can make a comeback.”
In the men’s doubles, second seeded makeshift pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Chirag Shetty clinched the title after beating top seeds Arjun M.R. and Shlok Ramchandran 21-13, 22-20.
Chirag and Pranaav came together after the former’s regular partner Satwik Rankireddy was sidelined ahead of the tournament due to an injury. Satwik and Chirag had finished runners-up at the last edition.
For Pranaav, it is his third national title, having won the men’s doubles crown along with Akshay Dewalkar in 2013 and 2015 and the mixed doubles title with Prajakta Sawant in
2010.
— after winning the National crown