Sport - Badminton

Thomas, Daya triumph

KOCHI: Ernakulam’s Thomas Kurien defeated defending champion K.A. Aneesh 19-21, 21-9, 21-7 and regained the men’s singles title in the 39th Seshasayee State senior badminton championship at the Udyogamandal Club here on Sunday.

“I was up 19-14 in the opener but I gave away the game in haste. I played the next two games very patiently,” said the top-seeded Thomas, a former Thomas Cupper who last won the Kerala crown in 2004.

Ernakulam’s 14-year-old Daya Elsa Jacob defeated district-mate Arathi Sara Sunil in straight games to win her maiden women’s title. Daya now has the rare honour of winning the State senior, junior and sub-junior titles in the same year.

National champion Sanave Thomas and Jaseel Ismail bagged the men’s doubles trophy while Thrissur sisters Merit and Miral George took the women’s doubles title.

Dr. George Sleeba, CMD, FACT, gave away the prizes.

The results:

Men’s singles: Final: Thomas Kurien (Ekm) bt K.A. Aneesh (Ekm) 19-21, 21-9, 21-7. Third place: Joy T. Antony (Ekm) bt Bennet Antony (Tsr) 21-15, 21-4. Doubles final: Sanave Thomas & Jaseel P. Ismail (Kzd) bt Thomas & Joy 21-12, 22-20.

Women’s singles: Final: Daya Elsa Jacob (Ekm) bt Arathi Sara Sunil (Ekm) 21-15, 21-8. Third place: P.S. Linimol (Ekm) bt P.S. Anumol (Ekm) 22-24, 21-15, 21-19. Doubles final: Merit George & Miral George (Tsr) bt P.S. Linimol & P.S. Anumol (Ekm) 21-17, 21-23, 21-15. — Principal Correspondent

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