India beats England despite Gopi Chand's absence

BIRMINGHAM, NOV. 28. Even in the controversial absence of all- England Open champion Pullela Gopi Chand, India proved too good for England in the first badminton Test match between the two countries for 20 years.

Gopi Chand had annoyed the Badminton Association of England by failing to make a return flight after going home last week, and the home team was also dismayed by a 2-3 defeat in a match in which it believed it started as the favourite.

The key to the Indian success was an impressive 8-6, 7-5, 7-4 victory by Nikhil Kanetkar over the English national champion Colin Haughton, an opponent to whom the Indian number three had lost in their previous two meetings.

It was however, the second time that the Bangalore- based player had caused trouble for England. Kanetkar was one of the winners in a notable victory in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur which had enabled India to take the silver medal in the men's team event.

This time Kanetkar came into the encounter full of confidence having reached the final of the Scottish Open only two days before, and produced an attacking performance of agility and deception.

Kanetkar's unexpected win levelled the scores at 1-1 after a defeat in the opening encounter for 19-year-old Trupti Murgunde. The national junior champion from Pune was beaten 2-7, 2-7, 5-7 by Tracey Hallam, who won the Thailand Open earlier in the month.

England still seemed capable of winning the match after taking a 2-1 lead when the new mixed doubles partnership of

Ian Sullivan and Donn A. Kellogg won 7-4, 7-1, 3-7, 7-3 against Murgunde and Thomas Kurian.

But home hopes evaporated when Aparna Popat, who had saved seven match points against Julia Mann in the Commonwealth women's singles semifinals, made another startling recovery against the English national champion. This time Popat came back from two games down and, after sneaking the third game, got completely on top.

Creating openings with fast clears deep to the backhand and taking them with smashes and sliced drops, Popat changed the pattern of the contest and advanced to a remarkable 1-7, 2-7, 7- 5, 7-1, 7-0 win.

There was rarely much doubt that Kurian would win the deciding encounter. The 21-year-old from Kerala had beaten Andrew South, the England number three, in Glasgow three days before, and now he outplayed him 7-0, 7-4, 7-2.

``It was very useful for our younger players to get more international competition,'' said team manager Vimal Kumar. ``Although since the Commonwealth Games badminton has become a priority sport, it is still not always easy for them to travel abroad. And it was a good win.''

The results: India beat England 3-2 (Trupti Murgunde lost to Tracey Hallam 2-7, 2-7, 5-7; Nikhil Kanetkar bt Colin Haughton 8- 6, 7-5, 7-4; Murgunde and Thomas Kurian lost to Ian Sullivan and Donn A. Kellogg 4-7, 1-7, 7-3, 3-7; Aparna Popat bt Julia Mann 1- 7, 2-7, 7-5, 7-1, 7-0; Kurian bt Andrew South 7-0, 7-4, 7-2).

- AFP

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