Poojitha claims a double

IOC’s fourth seed AR Navaneeth, who had lost to third seed CP Karthik in the Youth boys’ final earlier in the day, avenged that loss with a comfortable 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 win in the men’s title round.

A Mount Carmel PU College student and winner in the Junior girls’ category on Saturday, Poojitha overcame a stiff challenge second seed Shubhashree 5-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9.

The 16-year-old, who had defeated Shubhashree in the Junior final too, came into the match with a psychological advantage but Shubhashree derived confidence from Youth title earlier on Sunday.

Sports Authority of India’s Shubhashree made the most of Poojitha’s trouble with her backhand and raced to a 7-2 lead before taking the first game. Shubhashree won a number of long rallies in the second game but the 15-year-old could not defend a barrage of forehand smashes from Poojitha, who went on to level scores at 1-1.

Shubhashree came right back to take a 2-1 lead but Poojitha was not going down easy. She took the fourth and fifth games with ease and fended off a late surge from Shubhashree to grab the next two for the match.

DH News Service

Results: Men, final: 4-AR Navaneeth (IOC) bt 3-CP Karthik (BNM) 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8. (Semifinals): Navaneeth bt 1-Anirban T (Canara Bank) 10-12, 13-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-4; Karthik bt 2-Samson Selvakumar (Canara Bank) 11-7, 12-10, 11-7, 12-10.

Women, final: 1-V Poojitha (Hor) bt 2-C Shubhashree (SAI) 5-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9. (Semifinals): Shubhashree bt 7-BS Arpitha (JTTA) 8-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6; Poojitha bt 4-Malathi Bhaskar (BNM) 11-4, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4.

Youth: Boys, final: 1-CP Karthik (BNM) bt 2-AR Navaneeth (IOC) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9. (Semifinals): Navanaeeth bt SR Shreyas (Hor) 11-9, 11-6, 11-13, 11-5, 11-5; Karthik bt 4-Vedanth M Urs (Hor) 6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-8, 11-6.

Girls, final: 1-Shubhashree (SAI) bt 7-M Madhurya (HTTA) 11-6, 6-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-9. (Semifinals): Madhurya bt 3-BS Arpitha (JTTA) 12-10, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9; Shubhashree bt 5-Maitreyee Bailoor (Belgaum) 11-6, 12-10, 12-10, 5-11, 11-3.