PSPB teams seal final berth with convincing victories

 Petroleum Sports Control Board (PSPB) maintained their dominance at the 68th Inter-State badminton championship, reaching the finals of the men’s and women’s team competition to stay firmly on course for their 14th title at the Sher-e-Kashmir Indoor complex here on Friday.

In the semifinal, world number 20 P Kashyap dropped the opening game but recovered in time to script a 16-21, 21-10, 21-8 win over C Rohit Yadav, while reigning National champion Sourabh Verma, in contrast, had an easy outing against K Nandagopal, notching up a 21-5, 21-17 win to put PSPB 2-0 ahead against Airports Authority of India (AAI).

However, PSPB’s men’s doubles pair of Tarun Kona and Arun Vishnu was stunned by Manu Attree and Sumeeth Reddy B in three game as AAI pulled one back. Sai Praneeth then won the fourth tie and the contest for PSPB after Sumeeth retired hurt while trailing 3-4. In the women’s semifinal, PSPB rout Assam 2-0.

The results (team championship, semifinals): Men: PSPB bt AAI 3-1 (P Kashyap bt C Rohit Yadav 16-21, 21-10, 21-8; Sourabh Verma bt K Nandagopal 21-5, 21-17; Tarun Kona/ Arun Vishnu lt to Manu Attree/ Sumeeth Reddy 17-21, 21-14, 14-21; B Sai Praneeth bt Sumeeth Reddy 4-3 retd); Air India bt Assam 3-1 (Pratul Joshi lt to Hirak Jyoti Neog 17-21, 12-21; G Gopiraju bt Anjan Buragohain 19-21, 21-19, 21-14; Akshay Dewalkar/ Anand Pawar bt Dibyajyoti Borah/ Neog 21-12, 20-22, 21-18; Jishnu Sanyal bt Nikhilesh Sarma 21-11, 17-21, 21-19).

Women: Petroleum Sports Promotion Board bt Assam 2-0 (PC Thulasi bt Kaberi Phukan 21-11, 21-8; Ashwini Ponnappa/ Prajakta Sawant bt Kaberi and Abantika Deka 21-15, 21-9). Airports Authority of India bt Air India 2-0 (Neha Pandit bt Sayali Gokhale 21-15, 21-10; Pradnya Gadre/ N Sikki Reddy bt Saili Rane/ Tanvi Lad 21-17, 21-16)..