Sport - Badminton

Kashyap goes down fighting to Chong

— PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR

ONE STEP AWAY: Saina entered the women’s singles final beating Aditi.

GUWAHATI: India’s P. Kashyap, seeded fifth, exceeded all expectations in extending the third-seeded Malaysian Wei Feng Chong to the full distance before going down 21-12, 18-21, 19-21 in an exciting men’s singles semifinal action of the India International Challenge badminton championship at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium here on Tuesday. National champion and top seed B. Chetan Anand came through the other outplaying Utsav Mishra 21-7, 21-18.

The ladies final would be contested by National champion and seed No. 1 Saina Nehwal and second seed Kanako Yonekura of Japan. Despite making a number of unforced errors, Saina defeated Aditi Mutatkar 21-15, 21-18 while the Japanese put out Trupti Murgunde at 21-17, 21-17.

The 20-year-old Malaysian, in making his career’s first international final, was involved in a pulsating contest with Kashyap, considered to be one of India’s most promising talent. The Indian took the first game quickly.

The Malaysian was not to be left behind. He began to pepper his rival with steep smashes and delicate drops. Splendid court craft coupled with fast play enabled him to take an early lead in the second that he translated into winning the game.

Kashyap did slow down in the second put pressed the accelerator in the decider as his attacking clears and parallel shots pushed Chong to raise his game as well. A series of splendid rallies marked the game as the Indian kept the lead till 14-10.

In an attempt to finish the game faster, Kashyap made unforced errors and surrendered the lead at 15-15. As the game neared its end, the combatants continued to play fast and attacking game which ended with Chong getting his cross-court smash in.

Jwala Gutta won a double crown taking the women’s doubles and mixed doubles titles partnering Shruti Kurian and V. Diju respectively.

The results (all Indians unless mentioned otherwise): Doubles: Men: semifinals: Peng Soon Chan & Hun Pin Chang (Mas) bt V. Diju & Akshay Dewalkar 21-16, 21-17; T. Dinesh & J. James bt Diluka & Dinuka Karunaratne (Sri) 21-13, 21-18.

Women: final: G. Jwala & S. Kurian bt A. Balan and P. Jyotsna 21-11, 21-8.

Mixed: final: V. Diju & G. Jwala bt R. Kumar & A. Balan 21-14, 21-16.

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