CHANDIGARH-Second seed Sameer Verma of Air India took just 26 minutes to dispose of the challenge of Sourabh Varma of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board by 21-16, 21-16 in the men’s singles final of the 80th Senior National Badminton Championships at the Panjab University Gymnasium here today. Both are product of the Hyderabad-based Gopichand Pullela Badminton Academy.
Sameer Verma, ranked 38th and Sourabh Varma, ranked 177th were meeting for the third time. Sameer recored hat-trick by beating Sourabh for the third time.
Second seeded Thulasi Puthenpurayil Chandrika of Kerala wore the women’s singles crown after upsetting top seed Tanvi Lad in the all PSCB-final. Displaying better footwork and strokesThulasi registered a comfortable 21-9 21-13 victory in 41 minutes.
These players had earlier met twice and both occasions, Thulasi, ranked 101th had beaten Tanvi, ranked 92.
Top seeded pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar annexed the men’s doubles title as second seeded their rivals Alwin Francis and Tarun K. 20-15 retired. in the final in 19 minutes.
Top seed Pradnya Gadre and Sikki Reddy N. defeated second seeded Aparna Balan and Prajakta Sawant 22-20 21-18 in the women’s doubles final which lasted 44 minutes.
The mixed doubles title went to top seeded pair of Arun Vishnu and Aparna Balan who prevailed over third seeded duo of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Sikki Reddy N. by 22-20 22-20 in the 54-minute final.
Results (all finals):Men’s singles: Sameer Verma [2] bt Sourabh Varma 21-16 21-16.
Men’s doubles: Pranaav Jerry Chopra [1]/Akshay Dewalkar bt Alwin Francis [2]/Tarun K. 20-15 Retired.
Women’s singles: Thulasi P. C. [2] bt Tanvi Lad [1] 21-9 21-13
Women’s doubles: Pradnya Gadre [1]/Sikki Reddy N. bt Aparna Balan [2]/Prajakta Sawant 22-20 21-18.
Mixed doubles: Arun Vishnu [1]/Aparna Balan bt Pranaav Jerry Chopra [3]/Sikki Reddy N. 22-20 22-20.