The Hindu : Sport / Badminton : Sayali and Chetan take honours

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Monday, Jul 06, 2009
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Sayali and Chetan take honours

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Sayali Gokhale kept a tactical leash on Neha Pandit’s explosive strokeplay, keeping pace in the early stages and slowing down rallies later, to carve out a 21-19, 21-15 win at the second Tata Open All India badminton tournament.

Sayali took the women’s singles title after an intensely-fought contest between the two Prakash Padukone Academy training partners.

Chetan Anand kept his date with glory, exploiting chinks in Anand Pawar’s game at the net, to come-from-behind and score a 20-22, 21-12, 21-17 win in the men’s title clash.

Switching gears

The current National women’s champion and second seed here, Sayali realised the urgency to switch gears in the first game, composing herself at the 11-point break. “Neha was playing at a higher pace and I knew winning the first game was critical to gain an edge. So I had no option but to match her pace,” she said, referring to an exciting first game with marginal errors separating the two.

Sayali looked in charge in the second game, leading 11-9 and 14-9 at one stage before inching towards victory. “She likes to play flat, loves to hit. I tried to slow down the rallies in an attempt to disrupt her rhythm,” said the second seed.

Long returns

Chetan eased the pressure on Anand with a series of long returns in the first game and the latter picked up enough points by judging the length.

The top seed and favourite came into his own over the next two games, keeping Anand pinned to the deep and pocketing points with crosscourt half-smashes and drops.

The fourth seed managed bursts of inspired play in the decider, but not enough to rattle Chetan.

Aparna Balan clinched a double, partnering Arun Vishnu for the mixed doubles title and then teaming up with Shruti Kurien to bag the women’s doubles.

The results (finals)

Women: Singles: Sayali Gokhale (Air India) bt Neha Pandit (Mah) 21-19, 21-15.

Doubles: Aparna Balan (Ker) & Shruti Kurien (PSPB) bt Nitya Sosale (Kar) & Pradnya Gadre (Mah) 21-18, 21-11.

Men: Singles: Chetan Anand (PSPB) bt Anand Pawar (Air India) 20-22, 21-12, 21-17. Doubles: Rupesh Kumar (PSPB) & Sanave Thomas (Ker) bt Arun Vishnu (Ker) & Tarun (AP) 16-21, 21-14, 21-10.

Mixed doubles: Arun Vishnu & Aparna Balan (Ker) bt V. Diju (PSPB) & Ashwini Ponnappa (Kar) 21-14, 14-21, 21-19.

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