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Sai Praneeth and Sikki Reddy clinch titles

Special Correspondent

The various winners of the junior National badminton championship in Mandya on Monday.

MANDYA: B. Sai Praneeth of Andhra Pradesh was crowned the new boys’ champion while N. Sikki Reddy, also of Andhra Pradesh, retained the girls’ title in the 34th junior National badminton championship at the PET Stadium here on Monday.

It turned out to be a memorable double for Praneeth and Sikki as they later annexed the doubles titles.

In an absorbing 47-minute tussle, the second-seeded Praneeth played with a lot of flair and confidence against the third-seeded H.S. Prannoy of Air-India. He won 21-16, 14-21, 21-15.

Hot pace

The emphasis was on attack and both played at a scorching pace coming up with strong half-smashes and searing flicks. Praneeth, who went ahead 11-6 in the first game, maintained the momentum to take it 21-16.

In the second, Prannoy came up with a spirited reply and after levelling at seven, he took control by nose ahead 11-9. He built on that with patience and poise to clinch the game 21-14.

The decider was a close affair till 12-all and a couple of mishits by Prannoy saw Praneeth move ahead. The latter, who first unleashed a stinging smash, blasted away winners and fittingly closed out the contest with a neat smash. He promptly fell to the court and lifted his arms in joy.

“I had beaten Prannoy in a couple of our earlier meetings and it gave me the edge. I did not have any strategy in mind and I just went and played my game,” said the 17-year-old champion, a ward of Gopi Chand Academy.

Gopi must have been mighty proud of Praneeth’s effort and those of the two finalists in the girls’ division — Sikki and P.V. Sindhu. The second-seeded Sikki overcame a stiff early resistance from her talented 14-year-old rival and prevailed 21-17, 21-16.

Sikki attacked all the time, giving Sindhu very little chance to play her strong game at the net. For Sikki, this was her second National junior title in three finals. She had lost the 2007 final to Ruth Misha of Karnataka, but won it at Sivakasi last year and at Mandya now.

Delighted

“I am happy with my victory as it came after my loss to Sindhu in the AP senior championship final at Rajahmundry. I did not give her much chance to settle down and just kept the pressure on her,” said Sikki.

“Overall, I am satisfied with the way I am playing, but I need to strengthen my defence,” said the champion.

The results (all finals):

Boys: Singles: B. Sai Praneeth (AP) bt H.S. Prannoy (AI) 21-16, 14-21, 21-15.

Doubles: Praneeth (AP) / Pranav Chopra (AI) bt Sumeet Reddy (AP) / Prannoy 21-15, 21-18.

Girls: Singles: N. Sikki Reddy (AP) bt P.V. Sindhu (AP) 21-17, 21-16.

Doubles: Sikki / P.C. Thulasi (Ker) bt Gauri Ghate / Prajakta Sawant (Mah) 21-15, 21-14.

Mixed doubles: Pranav / Prajakta Sawant (Mah) bt K. Nandagopal (Rly) / Megha Merin Ninan (Mah) 21-10, 21-13.

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