Date:28/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/28/stories/2008092854631600.htm

Sport - Badminton

TN boys, women enter last four

Principal Correspondent

PUDUCHERRY: Tamil Nadu boys’ and women’s teams reached the semifinals of the South Zone inter-state badminton championship.

At the Rajiv Gandhi indoor stadium here on Saturday, TN blanked Puducherry 2-0 in the junior boys’ section while its women counterpart edged out the host 2-1.

M.R. Manikandan, TN’s best junior player outplayed G. Manibharathi 21-8, 21-14 to give his team a head start. Manikandan always had the upper hand in most of the rallies. The doubles combination of Velavan and Manikandan dispatched of Manibharathi and Naren. The 21-10, 21-10 win in the second tie showed the superiority of Tamil Nadu, which will face Andhra Pradesh next.

Hamsica’s loss to Puducherry’s Rebecca in the first tie in the women’s quarterfinal did give jitters to the TN camp. But to its credit it picked things wonderfully well to script a 2-1 victory.

Anees Kowsar and A. Priya rarely showed any signs of nerves combining well to defeat Rebecca and Avanthi Bade 21-10, 21-11 in the second match. And Anees disposed of Suguna 21-17, 21-18. TN will meet AP in the last four clash.

After losing the first singles in the junior girls’ section, TN levelled through doubles. The Suneri and Darshini pair impressed with their superlative display. Suneri’s wonderful anticipation at the net and equally fine deception provided the necessary inspiration to Darshini, who improved as the match progressed. The 9-21, 24-22, 22-20 victory over Megha Merin Ninan and Thulasi put Kerala on back foot. But Daya Elsa Jacob put TN in its place, trouncing Amrin Mubarak to close out the match.

The results (quarterfinals): Men: Andhra Pradesh bt Puducherry 3-0 (N. Srujan bt Silambarasan 21-9, 21-12; C.M. Sashidhar bt Thirumal Priyan 21-10, 21-8; Guru Sai Dutt & K. Tarun bt Silambarasan & Dakshnamurthi 21-14, 21-12).

Junior boys: Tamil Nadu bt Puducherry 2-0 (M.R. Manikandan bt G. Manibharathi 21-8, 21-14; Manikandan & V. Velavan bt Manibharathi & B. Naren 21-10, 21-10).

Women: Tamil Nadu bt Puducherry 2-1 (Hamsica lost to Rebecca 17-21, 21-19, 19-21; Anees Kowsar & A. Priya bt Rebecca & Avanthi Bade 21-10, 21-11; Anees Kowsar bt Suguna 21-17, 21-18).

Junior girls: Kerala bt Tamil Nadu 2-1 (P.C. Thulasi bt Darshini 21-15, 21-10; P.C. Thulasi & Megha Merin Ninan lost to Darshini & Suneri 21-9, 22-24, 20-22; Daya Elsa Jacob bt Amrin Mubarak 21-8, 21-12).