At the launch of the Tata Open International Challenge, India’s badminton legend Prakash Padukone announced that the Badminton World Federation’s category-5 event will see the future stars of the world. And Thailand’s 17-year- old Pornpawee Chochuwong could make Padukone’s forecast come true.
Keen to make a mark in the seniors section, she recovered after losing the first game to outwit the 24-year- old Malaysian top seed Jing Yi Tee in a 40 minute tussle and win the women’s singles title here on Sunday.
While sparks flew with the Thai girl matching her experienced opponent stroke for stroke, Sameer Verma scored a straight-game victory over Sourabh Verma — elder to him by two years — in a lacklustre men’s singles final.
Both Pornpawee and Sameer are likely to improve their positions in the world rankings that will be announced on Monday.
Ready to smile even at being deceived or on missing a sitter, Pornpawee played well in patches right through the final. She won the big points dribbling at the net, with cross court drops and also deploying the half smash. Jing won some points with airborne smashes from the back court. Pornpawee, the No. 2 seed, lost the opening game 16-21, but was relentless in the second game. Jing appeared upset at a line call and was not her usual confident self after that, hitting smashes to the net or returning beyond the service line.
Both won a number of points making mistakes, but in the end and especially after the crossover in the third game, Pornpawee leading 11-10, took charge of the match. It was her second win over Jing, the previous one in the Australian Badminton Open at Sydney in April 2013.
Sameer Verma’s usual airborne smashes from the back court and directed towards the sidelines did not work all the time, yet he managed to subdue his elder brotherin 26 minutes.
The results (finals): Men: Sameer Verma bt Sourabh Verma 21-11, 21-18. Doubles: Wannawat Ampunsuwan & Tinn Isriyanate (Tha) bt Akshay Dewalkar & Pranaav Jerry Chopra 21-14, 21-9.
Women: Pornpawee Chochuwong (Tha) bt Jing Yi Tee (Mas) 16-21, 21-11, 21-15. Doubles: Chaladchalam Chayanit & Phataimas Muenwong (Tha) bt K. Maneesha & N. Sikki Reddy 21-11, 15-21, 21-13. Mixed doubles: Satwiksairaj Ranikireddy/K.Maneesha bt Arun Vishnu/Aparna Balan 21-13, 21-16.
