Date:01/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/01/stories/2008090154402000.htm

Sport - Badminton

Prannoy wins boys’ title

Principal Correspondent

Daya Elsa Jacob takes girls’ title

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: H.S. Prannoy and Daya Elsa Jacob won the boys’ and girls’ singles titles respectively in the Popular Hyundai R. Rajashekaran Memorial State junior badminton championships at the Sri Moolam Club here on Sunday.

Top seed Prannoy had little trouble in retaining his title as he defeated second seed Neeraj Rahiman 21-11, 21-19 in the final.

Daya Elsa Jacob justified her top seeding by making short work of giant killer Arathi Sara Sunil.

Arathi, who shocked second seed Linimol in the semifinals, couldn’t reproduce the same form in the final and lost rather tamely.

Vishnu Prasad and Neeraj Rahiman won the boys’ doubles title while Megah Merin and Linimol triumphed in the girls’ section.

The results: Boys singles (final): H.S. Prannoy (Tvm) bt Neeraj Rahiman (Kzde) 21-11, 21-19. Semifinals: Prannoy bt Vishnu Prasad (Kzde) 21-12, 21-9; Neeraj Rahiman bt Dilshad (Ekm) 20-22, 21-16, 21-16.

Doubles (final): Vishnu Prasad / Neeraj Rahiman (Kzde) bt Mithun Haridas bt Sanjith (Tsr) 21-11, 21-18.

Girls (finals): Daya Elsa Jacob (Ekm) bt Arathi Sara Sunil (Ekm) 21-9, 21-12. Semifinals: Daya Elsa Jacob bt Anjali Maria Sunil (Ekm) 21-12, 21-13; Arathi Sara Sunil bt Linimol (Tsr) 21-11, 21-14.

Doubles (final): Megha Merin / Linimol bt Anjali Maria Sunil / Arathi Sara Sunil 21-0, 15-21, 21-17.

Mixed doubles (final): Vishnu Prasad / Linimol bt H.S. Prannoy / Megha Merin 21-15, 11-21, 21-16.