Date:19/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/19/stories/2007021909481900.htm

Sport - Badminton

Big triumph for Kashyap

Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: P. Kashyap upset National champion Chetan Anand in the men's badminton final of the 33rd National Games at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium here on Sunday.

The 20-year-old from Andhra Pradesh kept his nerves under check and survived a match point to defeat the top-seed and compatriot 21-19, 10-21, 25-23.

"There was no pressure on me (to win) and it really helped. I need these kind of tournaments to get confidence," said Kashyap.

The women's summit clash, a repeat of the recently concluded National championship in Patna, saw top-seed Saina Nehwal (Andhra Pradesh) overcome a stiff resistance from Aditi Mutatkar of Maharashtra before winning 24-22, 21-15.

No pressure

Kashyap had played under a lot of pressure at Patna but here he played with no baggage.

Andhra Pradesh reaped a rich harvest with four gold, two silvers and a bronze.

The results (final): Men: P. Kashyap (AP) bt Chetan Anand (AP) 21-19, 10-21, 25-23.

Women: Saina Nehwal (AP) bt Aditi Mutatkar (Mah) 24-22, 21-15.