Shubha, Anirban pocket titles

Mens, womens finals witness fascinating contests

Both had to put their best foot forward in gruelling title clashes before emerging triumphant.

While Tarafdar quelled a strong challenge from Samson Selvakumar before prevailing in six games in the best of seven final, Shubhashree had to work even harder before prevailing 11-7 in the decider against Youth girls champion Bhavana V Murthy.

Having had to battle his way through the draw, Tarafdar appeared on course for a straight-game romp in the final as he pocketed the first two games before Selvakumar came roaring back to level the contest at two games apiece, displaying some good skills.

That’s when Tarafdar, who rediscovered the rhythm,  stepped up a gear, easily taking the fifth and sixth games to complete a 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5 triumph.

The Shubhashree-Bhavana clash was a see-saw affair with fortunes fluctuating from end to end before the greater enterprise of the former saw her prevail in the thriller.

Seemingly untouched by a gruelling semifinal that she won on extra points in the decider against N Poojitha, Bhavana matched her rival shot for shot and point for point before Shubhashree eventually came through 3-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7.

Results:

Men, final: Anirban Tarafdar bt Samson Selvakumar 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5.

Semifinals: A Tarafdar bt Jaideep Das 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6; S Selvakumar bt Sagayaraj 7-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8. (Quarterfinals): A Tarafdar bt G Yeshwant 11-4, 13-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5; J Das bt MV Sandip 11-4, 11-7, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 2-11; Sagayaraj bt VP Charan 11-5, 11-9, 2-11, 13-11, 11-3; S Selvaraj bt Uday S Athreya (latter conceded).
Women, final: C Shubhashree bt Bhavana V Murthy 3-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11,
11-7.

Semifinals: Bhavana bt N Poojitha 11-9, 14-16, 11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 12-10; Shubhashree bt M Madhurya 11-4, 10-12, 11-5, 13-11, 11-3.

(Quarterfinals): Poojitha bt KS Haripriya 11-5, 11-2, 11-6, 11-3; Bhavana bt N Arpitha 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5; Madhurya bt Malathi Bhaskar 11-5, 10-12, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3.