Date:05/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/05/stories/2008050560862100.htm

Sport - Badminton

Maiden title for Tamil Nadu women

Special Correspondent

Indian Railways won the men’s title
Kerala women’s team was without one of its main players

— Photo: M. Karunakaran

PROUD MOMENT: It was an unforgettable day for the Tamil Nadu women as they won the senior National ball badminton title for the first time in Chennai on Sunday.

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu won the women’s title for the first time in the senior National ball badminton championship which concluded at the St. Joseph’s College of Engineering campus here on Sunday.

In the men’s section, Indian Railways regained the title it had lost time beating Hyderabad 29-14, 29-23.

Tamil Nadu women showed better adaptability in windy conditions to dethrone Kerala, which has been regularly winning the National title.

The final scoreline of 29-18, 29-14 does not convey the keen tussle between the two teams.

Right-back Shobna and the centre player Aishwarya were the mainstays for the host. Tamil Nadu was ahead right from the start and slowly but surely kept enlarging its lead.

Kerala had come without one of its main players, but that alone was not the reason for its downfall.

Tight defence

Clearly, the Tamil Nadu girls undermined the rival with tight defence and effective attack.

Shobana kept the high returns going, while Aishwarya showed the prowess with snap finishes close to the net. Egged on by a small gathering, Tamil Nadu steadily marched to a grand win.

If it was despair for Kerala in the women’s section, then reigning champion Hyderabad met the same fate in the men’s category.

In a way Railways had avenged its defeat in Nellore. “After our defeat last time questions were asked about our performances,” a relieved Railways Coach T. Rajasekhar said.

Having won the title for a decade prior to Nellore, Railways’ hunger for honours was understandable.

Rajasekhar particularly mentioned Jeyagan and Satheesh for the way they turned the things around. The two inspired the other three.

If the tall Sasikumar delighted with his high serves, which became tricky in the windy conditions, then Anbazhagan was sharp in interceptions and Vijaykumar came up with timely smashes to keep the momentum going.

Barring a brief moment in the second game when from 14-26, Hyderabad narrowed the lead to 20-27, nothing could stop the Railways chugging away to glory.

The Director of St. Joseph’s College, Dr. Babu Manoharan, gave away the prizes.

Other results: Semifinals: Men: Indian Railways bt TN 29-24, 21-7; Hyderabad bt Andhra 29-16, 29-12; Third place: TN bt Andhra 29-20, 29-3. Women: Kerala bt Andhra 29-17, 28-29, 29-26; TN bt Hyderabad 29-20, 29-8; Third place: Andhra bt Hyderabad 29-7, 29-14.

National mini-mixed doubles: Final placings: 1. Hyderabad; 2. Andhra; 3. Tamil Nadu; 4. Puducherry.

Star of India awards: Men: Sasikumar, Anbazhagan (both Railways), P. Venkateswara Rao (Hyd), T. Sivaguru (TN), K. Sampath Kumar (Andhra). Women: C. Shobana, G. Saranya (both TN), K.M. Sajitha (Ker), G. Asha (Andhra), Geetha (Hyd).