Date:22/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/22/stories/2006082208051800.htm

Sport - Badminton

Aditya takes on Prakash

MANDYA: Local lad and top seed Aditya R. Prakash was on course for the title in the boys' under-16 singles in the State badminton championship, as he outclassed fourth-seeded K.R. Shankar 21-11, 21-9 in the semifinals at the PET Stadium courts here on Monday.

Aditya takes on the second seed Prakash Jolly, who prevailed over Sonic Prabhu Desai 21-5, 21-14 in the other semifinal.

The spotlight of the day was on the fierce contests in the boys' under-13 singles where the top seed Vinay Hari battled it out for more than an hour to defeat fourth-seeded Himasnhu Kotbagi 23-21, 15-21, 21-16 in the semifinal.

The other semifinal also went to the distance as second seed Shashank Menon rallied to down Rajas Jawalkar 18-21, 21-16, 21-12.

Top seed Shruthi Sridhar, after a sluggishs start, beat Uttara Prakash 21-19, 21-15 to enter the girls under-16 singles final. She meets Ankita Ashok, who humbled Sayali Malgave 21-15, 23-21.

Devika-Reshma duo wins

Earlier on Sunday, Devika Ravindra and Reshma Karthik bagged the girls' under-13 doubles title with a 21-10, 21-17 win over Swathi Poorvisha and Sangeetha Udupa in the final.

The results:

Boys: Under-16 singles: Semifinals: Aditya R. Prakash bt K.R. Shankar 21-11, 21-9; Prakash Jolly bt Sonic Prabhu Desai 21-5, 21-14. (Quarterfinals): Aditya R. Prakash bt Pratap Menon 21-5, 21-6; K.R. Shankar bt Vikramankar 21-17, 21-15; Sonic Prabhu Desai bt Rajas Jawalkar 21-15, 21-13; Prakash Jolly bt Ajay Patil 21-14, 21-12.

Under-13 singles: Semifinals: Vinay Hari bt Himanshu Kotbagi 23-21, 15-21, 21-16; Shashank Menon bt Rajas Jawalkar 18-21, 21-16, 21-12. (Quarterfinals): Vinay Hari bt Satwik 21-6, 21-7; Himanshu Kotbagi bt Channabasava Jyothi 21-8, 21-8; Rajas Jawalkar bt Rakshit 21-15, 21-13; Shashank Menon bt Abhishek Yeligar 21-13, 5-22.

Doubles: Semifinals: Himanshu Kotbagi/Rajas Jawalkar bt Siddarth/Shivanayak 21-7, 21-17; Channnabasava Jyothi/Vinay Hari bt Abhishek/Yashasvi 21-5, 21-13.

Girls: Under-16 singles: Semifinals: Shruthi Sridhar bt Uttara Prakash 21-19, 21-15; Ankita Ashok bt M. Sayali 21-15, 23-21. (Quarterfinals): Shruthi Sridhar bt K. Sonal More 21-19, 21-19; Uttara Prakash bt K. Jacqueline 11-21, 21-11, 22-20; M. Sayali bt Taanya Ravi 21-13, 21-13; Ankita Ashok bt K. Menaka 21-8, 21-4.

Under-19 singles: Pre-quarterfinals: V. Ruth Misha bt Srividya 21-1, 21-2; Aswini Ponnappa bt Priyanka 21-5, 21-6; K. Jacqueline bt Shruthi Sridhar 21-15, 21-19; M. Sayali bt Yashica Poonacha 17-21, 21-17, 21-14; Nitya Soale bt Apoorva 21-9, 21-13.

Under-13 doubles: Final: Devika Ravindra/Reshma Karthik bt Swathi Poorvisha/Sangeetha Udupa 21-10,21-17.