Saina eases past Sindhu to defend national crown
Claims high-profile showdown like last year; Sourabh Verma wins third men’s title
Nehwal beat PV Sindhu in straight games in the marquee clash of the tournament to retain the women’s singles crown at the 83rd Senior Badminton Nationals here on Saturday.
Saina, the former world No 1, used powerful smashes to telling effect for a 21-18, 21-15 win against her younger rival, a twotime winner.
Sourabh Verma completed a hat-trick of titles, claiming the men’s singles crown by defeating young Lakshya Sen 21-18, 21-13.
Saina and Sourabh were richer by ~3.25 lakh while Sindhu and Sen received ~1.7 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,” said Saina, who has lost to Sindhu only once in international events, at the 2017 India Open.
“Sindhu is playing at the highest level for quite some time. 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 win,” added Saina, who won her fourth title.
In a repeat of last edition’s final in Nagpur, Saina, the 2012 Olympics bronze medallist, once again had the upper hand during the exciting clash, which was witnessed by a capacity crowed at the TRP Indoor Stadium.
Saina also defeated Sindhu, the 2016 Rio Games silver medallist, in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games final.
Sourabh, 26, who hails from Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, showed composure and used his experience to outdo the 17-yearold Lakshya for the second time in the senior nationals. He had beaten Lakshya, then 15, in the final 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 constantly and every time you have to be alert against him. It was my fourth final (lost one final) and third win,” Sourabh said. “At 6-6 in the first game, I had made unforced errors so I thought if I reduce my mistakes I can make a comeback.”
In men’s doubles, second seeded makeshift pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Chirag Shetty clinched the title after beating top seeds MR Arjun and Shlok Ramchandran 21-13, 22-20 in 33 minutes.
‘INELIGIBLE PLAYERS’
Railways, who finished runner-up in the team championships, have lodged a protest demanding that winners Airport Authority of India (AAI) be disqualified on grounds that they had fielded “ineligible” players.
Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) has sent a letter to Badminton Association of India (BAI) secretary Ajay Singhania, saying the governing body had informed some teams ahead of the junior nationals in December that they cannot field players on scholarship or contract in the team championship.
AAI employs players only on contract and RSPB said this makes them ineligible for the team event and hence they should be disqualified. “Our team manager’s objections were overlooked. This has resulted in Railways missing out on the title,” it wrote.