Date:01/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/01/stories/2004080107121600.htm

Sport - Badminton

Sankar, Aparna triumph with ease

By Our Principal Correspondent

KOCHI, JULY 31. Ernakulam's Sankar P. Gopan and Kozhikode's Aparna Balan lifted the boys and girls trophies in the Kerala State junior badminton championship at the Rajiv Gandhi indoor stadium here on Saturday evening.

Sankar made his first junior year a memorable one by dethroning the Kerala No.1 and doubles international Ayyappan Krishnan 15-11, 15-2, while Aparna, the country's girls No.1, defeated left-hander Miral George 11-6, 11-3.

Ayyappan enjoyed the height advantage but his bulky frame clearly hampered his mobility against the fleet-footed Sankar.

He appeared rusty too as the 16-year-old raced to a 9-2 lead. Ayyappan levelled at 10, but Sankar recovered nicely to win the opening game. The rest was easy.

In the girls final, Miral tried to force Aparna to the rear with some high tosses but the Kozhikode lass just had to produce the low drops to win points. Aparna, who will be 18 on August 9, took home three titles.

The Kerala Badminton Association president, M.J. Luis, gave away the prizes. The Ernakulam DBA president, S.A.S. Navaz, secretary P.K. Gopan and Arjuna Awardee George Thomas spoke at the closing function.

The results: Junior boys singles: Final: Sankar P. Gopan (Ekm) bt Ayyappan Krishnan (Tvm) 15-11, 15-2. Semifinals: Ayyappan bt Alwin Francis (Tsr) 15-6, 10-15, 15-8; Sankar bt K.S. Gauthaman (Tvm) 15-2, 15-11. Junior boys doubles final: Ayyappan & Gauthaman (Tvm) bt Alwin & Hershen (Tsr) 15-5, 11-15, 15-12. Junior girls singles: Final: Aparna Balan (Kzd) bt Miral George (Tsr) 11-6, 11-3. Semifinals: Aparna bt Archana Moses (Ekm) 11-0, 11-2; Miral bt M. Sruthi (Kzd) 13-12, 13-11. Junior girls doubles final: Aparna & Suma Suresh (Kzd) bt Miral & Sruthi (Kzd) 15-10, 15-11.

Junior mixed doubles final: Arjun Prasad & Aparna (Kzd) bt Nithin (Kzd) & Miral (Tsr) 15-8, 15-6. Veteran men's singles final: Philip Benzy (Ekm) bt K.J. Roy (Ekm) 15-7, 15-3. Doubles final: Philip & Johnson (Ekm) bt Mohammed Basheer & Roy (Ekm) 15-8, 15-2.