Sachin Ratti, Manjusha Kanwar win

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, JUNE 30. With his rich repertoire of strokes and smooth movements, Sachin Ratti always looked the best prospect for the men's crown. And the 20-year-old youngster from Jallandhar justified his form as he triumphed 15-1, 5-15, 15-8 over top seed Chetan Anand in the final of the All-India Railway Open badminton tournament at the Karnail Singh Stadium here on Friday.

The women's final also witnessed the upset of top seed, B.R. Meenakshi, who went down 10-13, 0-11 to in-form Manjusha Kanwar. Manjusha collected her second successive title, after claiming the PSCB inter-unit title last week.

Northern Railway's Ratti collected Rs. 16,000 for his effort, Anand had to be content with Rs. 8,000. The women's winner and runner-up received Rs. 13,800 and Rs. 6,600, respectively.

The way Ratti outclassed his opponent in the first game in 11 minutes, the summit clash was in danger of finishing in a jiffy. Ratti with his flawless drops and dribbles left Anand stranded and took a 10-1 lead in seven minutes.

Anand committed unforced errors repeatedly in an effort to change the pace and lost the game without managing to increase his tally further.

Anand, who trailed 0-3 in the next game, showed some control as his ploy of short serves following with precise tosses worked well for the Vijayawada-lad. Anand took seven points on the trot to surge ahead 7-3.

Though, Ratti reduced the gap to 5-7, Anand managed another set of seven consecutive points from 5-8 to equalise after 28 minutes.

In a battle of wits, Ratti managed to gain a slender 5-4 lead in the decider. Ratti wrested the advantage as a delectable drop and a winner, resulting from a dribble, gave him 8-4 cushion.

Anand replied with a smash to break the serve and then took three successive points to bridge the gap to 7-8. But Anand failed to curb his errors and gave too many easy points to go down in the end.

`Double' for Bristow

PSCB's Markose Bristow claimed a `double' with victories in the men's doubles and the mixed doubles. The reigning National champions Bristow and Vijaydeep Singh eased past V. Diju and Sanave Thomas of Kerala 15-7, 15-6 in the men's doubles final. The duo of Bristow and B.R. Meenakshi defeated Madhumita Bisht and Mayur Ghatnekar 15-12, 15-12 for the mixed double's victory.

Veteran Madhumita managed to add another title to her vast collection as she and P.V.V. Lakshmi prevailed 17-14, 10-15, 15- 12 over Manjusha Kanwar and Archana Deodhar in the women's doubles final.

The results: men's singles (final): Sachin Ratti (NR) bt Chetan Anand (PSCB) 15-1, 5-15, 15-8. Doubles: Vijaydeep Singh (NR)/Markose Bristow (PSCB) bt V. Diju/Sanave Thomas (Ker) 15-7, 15-6.

Women singles: Manjusha Kanwar (PSCB) bt B.R. Meenakshi (Kar) 13- 10, 11-0. Doubles: Madhumita Bisht (NR)/P.V.V. Lakshmi (PSCB) bt Manjusha Kanwar/Archana Deodhar (PSCB) 17-14, 10-15, 15-12.

Mixed doubles: B.R. Meenakshi (Kar)/Markose Bristow (PSCB) bt Madhumita Bisht (NR)/Mayur Ghatnekar (WR) 15-12, 15-12.

Sachin Ratti (left) and Manjusha Kanwar who won the men's and women's singles titles, respectively, in the All India Railway Open badminton championship in Delhi on Friday.

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