Date:13/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/13/stories/2004121306521800.htm

Sport - Badminton

Titles for Kerala, AP

HASSAN, DEC. 12. Kerala girls and Andhra Pradesh boys emerged champions in the 29th junior National ball badminton championship, which concluded at the Government HS grounds here on Sunday. While Kerala had it easy against Tamil Nadu winning 29-28, 29-8, Andhra dropped the first game before edging out the host 27-29, 29-21, 29-22.

The Karnataka boys, the defending champions, began aggressively to win the first game against a rather subdued Andhra. But the loss only jolted the Andhra boys into cruise mode and then on there was no stopping them asKarnataka caved under the onslaught. Andhra won the decider with a lot to spare.

The final places: Boys: 1. Andhra, 2 Karnataka, 3. Tamil Nadu, 4. Hyderabad, 5. Chhattisghar, 6. West Bengal, 7. Maharashtra, 8. Pondicherry.

Girls: 1. Kerala, 2. Tamil Nadu, 3. Karnataka, 4. Andhra Pradesh, 5. Hyderabad, 6. Madhya Pradesh, 7. Uttar Pradesh, 8. Punjab.

The results: Boys: Final: Andhra Pradesh bt Karnataka 27-29, 29-21, 29-22. Semifinals: Karnataka bt TN 29-22, 29-17; Andhra Pradesh bt Hyderabad 28-29, 29-19, 29-17.

Girls: Final: Kerala bt Tamil Nadu 29-28, 29-8. Semifinals: Kerala bt Karnataka 29-20, 25-29, 29-27; Tamil Nadu bt Andhra Pradesh 29-13, 29-8.