Sourabh Verma kept India’s hopes of a singles title alive in the Hyderabad Open badminton championships with a brilliant 23-21, 21-16 win over unseeded Malaysian Iskandar Zulkarnain in 48 minutes in the men’s semifinal at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here on Saturday.
Top seeds Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy of India also stayed on course for a crown with a dominant display against the Hong Kong pair of Fan Ka Yan and Wu Yi Tin, winning 21-12, 21-12 in a 28-minute women’s doubles last-four clash.
The much-awaited match between Sourabh and Iskandar started on an even note as the styles and approach of the two looked similar with a combination of fine smashes and classy net game.
As the contest progressed, it was clearly a test of fitness, composure and skill and Sourabh passed in all of them in style.
The scores in the first game were tied quite a few times before it was all about keeping the nerve in the decisive phase. At 20-20, Sourabh raised the bar and as chief National coach P. Gopi Chand, who was cheering from the gallery said, the ability of the Indian to control the shuttle and countering the drift factor on a tricky court was the clincher.
Sourabh changed the pace of the game and won points with an impressive array of cross-court smashes and terrific net-dribbles.
In the second game, Sourabh took a 11-5 lead and there was no looking back.
In the final, Sourabh will take on Loh Kean Yew of Singapore, who downed Korean Heo Kwang Hee 16-21, 21-10, 25-23.
Important results (semifinals, Indians unless specified):
Men: Sourabh Verma bt Iskandar Zulkarnain (Mas) 23-21, 21-16; Loh Kean Yew (Sin) bt Heo Kwang Hee (Kor) 16-21, 21-10, 25-23; Doubles: Muhammad Shohibul Fikri & Bagas Maulana (Ina) bt Lee Jhe-Heui & Yang Po-Hsuan (Tpe) 22-20, 21-18; Na Sung Seung & Wang Chan (Kor) bt Min Hyuk Kang & Kim Jae Hwan (Kor) 21-14, 21-15.
Women: Yeo Jia Min (Sin) bt Phittayaporn Chaiwan (Tha) 21-11, 15-21, 21-18; An Se Young (Kor) bt Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (Tha) 21-14, 21-13; Doubles: Ashwini Ponnappa & N. Sikki Reddy bt Fan Ka Yan & Wu Yi Ting (HKg) 21-12, 21-12. ; Baek Ha Na & Jung Kyung Eun (Kor) bt Akane Araki & Riko Imai (Jap) 21-10, 21-9.
