The Hindu : Sport / Badminton : Pawar has the measure of Guru Sai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 05, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Badminton

Pawar has the measure of Guru Sai

MUMBAI: Anand Pawar got the measure of Guru Sai Dutt — without being stretched — 21-12, 21-14 in the men’s singles semifinal at the 2nd Tata Open All India badminton tournament. Chetan Anand took a faster route to the men’s final at the CCI courts, dismissing P. Kashyap’s challenge 21-11, 21-12.

Neha Pandit dominated the women’s singles competition on the penultimate day, defeating top seed Aditi Mutatkar in the quarterfinals and later brushing aside Gayatri Vartak for a final place against Sayali Gokhale Chetan, seeded No. 1 in the men’s draw, is confident of responding to the challenge from fourth-seeded Pawar, for whom clinching the final place was an extension of the form shown in the tournament so far.

“I need to keep him under pressure constantly,” said the Petroleum shuttler, more experienced and accomplished than his rival from Air India, for whom playing with the flow and patience when the points pile up against are critical factors.

Pawar, referring to two victories in a single day, said: “I felt the flow in my game during the quarterfinals, again in the semifinals.

Twice in the past, I was on match-point against Chetan and lost from 20-19. Maybe I need to control my anxiety when points go against me,” said the fourth seed, expressing surprise at the semifinals ending in two games. “Guru is a difficult opponent. I made sure the lead remained within catching distance.”

The seventh seed caught up at 6-all and 8-all in the first and second games, then found the momentum slipping away when Pawar turned on the heat.

Sayali Gokhale, seeded No. 2, edged out unseeded Trupti Murgunde in a 70-minute women’s singles semifinal.

The results:

Men’s semifinals: Chetan Anand (Pet) bt P. Kashyap (Pet) 21-11, 21-12; Anand Pawar (Air India) bt Guru Sai Dutt (AP) 21-12, 21-14. Quarterfinals: Chetan Anand (Pet) bt Ajay Jayaram (Maharashtra) 14-21, 21-19, 21-12; P Kashyap (Pet) bt S.D.S. Krishna (Kar) 21-3, 21-6; Anand Pawar (AI) bt Sagar Chopda (Mah) 21-13, 21-10; Guru Sai Dutt (AP) bt Tanishaq K (AP) 21-10, 21-13.

Women’s semifinals: Neha Pandit (Mah) bt Gayatri Vartak (Mah) 21-8, 21-13; Sayali Gokhale (AI) bt Trupti Murgunde (Pet) 21-19, 14-21, 21-18. Quarterfinals: Neha Pandit (Mah) bt Aditi Mutatkar (Pet) 21-11, 21-12; Trupti Murgunde (Pet) bt Mudra Dhainje (AI) 21-13, 21-8; Sayali Gokhale (AI) bt Parssa Naqvi (Rlys) 21-11, 21-15; Gayatri Vartak (Mah) bt Ashwini Ponnappa (Kar) 21-14, 19-21, 21-14.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport