Date:12/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/12/stories/2008121261101900.htm

Sport - Badminton

Andhra Pradesh reigns

Principal Correspondent

SIVAKASI: Andhra Pradesh retained the Narang Cup for boys and won the Shafi Qureshi Cup for girls at the 33rd junior National inter-zonal badminton championship, organised by the Virudhunagar District Badminton Association, here on Thursday.

In the boys’ final, AP’s Sumeeth Reddy rallied to beat Air India’s Hirak Jyoti 22-20, 16-21, 21-14 in the first singles. Hirak held the upper hand in the earlier part of the first game to take a 14-9 lead.

However Sumeeth recovered admirably, courtesy well-angled smashes, to level the scores at 17-17 and held his nerve to win the game. Hirak began the second game positively and secured some quick points. Sumeet erred in judgement and also let go of some easy points as Hirak won 21-16.

In the third, Sumeet never allowed his opponent to settle down and after gaining a 19-13 advantage finished off the match soon.

B. Sai Praneeth and S. Aravind scored a hard fought 15-21, 21-16, 21-12 win over Pranav Chopra and Prateek Patel to help AP defend the title.

In the girls’ section, N. Sikki Reddy gave her team a flying start trouncing Maharashtra’s Gauri Ghate 21-10, 21-14 in about 20 minutes. Sikki later partnered P.V. Sindhu to down Pradnya Gadre and Sweta Kelkar 23-21, 21-18.

The results:

Finals: Boys: Andhra Pradesh bt Air India 2-0 (Sumeeth Reddy bt Hirak Jyoti 22-20, 16-21, 21-14; B. Sai Praneeth & S. Aravind bt Pranav Chopra & Prateek Patel 15-21, 21-16, 21-12).

Girls: Andhra Pradesh bt Maharashtra 2-0 (N. Sikki Reddy bt Gauri Ghate 21-10, 21-14; N. Sikki Reddy & P.V. Sindhu bt Pradnya Gadre and Sweta Kelkar 23-21, 21-18).