<p>Three-time National champion Sridhar, who last won a title way back in January 2008 at the Pramod Mahajan memorial tournament in Delhi, gave a boost to his confidence, defeating upcoming youngster Saurabh Verma 21-19, 20-22, 21-15 in a fiesty final at the KGS Club courts.<br /><br />Reigning national champion Trupti Murgunde outclassed Arundhati Pantawane 21-12, 21-18 in the women’s final while fancied Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa lost the women’s doubles final 19-21, 11-21 to second-seeded pair of Aparna Balan and Prajakta Sawant.<br /><br />“This is indeed the confidence-booster that I needed,” said Sridhar, who has been troubled by a nagging left ankle injury after he first fractured it in July 2008. “I have been struggling to make an impact since 2008 when titles just dried up. <br /><br />“I felt really shattered, but I am happy that all the hard work paid off here. I was focused and determined and now am hopeful of doing well in the upcoming tournaments, although I am still far from being fully fit.”<br /><br />PSPB’s Sridhar indeed looked far from his best against a gritty Verma but managed to cross the distance thanks to his experience. Sridhar’s persistent assualt was countered brilliantly by the fast-moving Verma. The Madhya Pradesh lad kept retrieving everything thrown at him but eventually ran out of steam in the deciding game. <br /><br />After opening an 8-1 lead in the opening game and seemingly in control, Verma suddenly lost his rhythm as Sridhar clawed back to race away to a 17-13 lead before clinching the opener. The second game was a more closely fought affair with neither willing to give an inch. A well-executed smash gave Verma game point and the MP lad levelled proceedings at 1-1 after a Sridhar stroke hit the net.<br /><br />His efforts in the first two games seemed to have taken a heavy toll on Verma as a cool and calm Sridhar quickly marched to 17-5 lead in the decider. Just when everyone thought the 27-year-old Sridhar had pocketed the title, Verma added spice to the drama winning five straight points. However, Sridhar halted Verma’s charge with a powerful smash right down the centre, ending his barren run.<br /><br />Easy ride<br />As for top-seeded Trupti, the PSPB shuttler hardly broke a sweat in dismantling seventh seed Arundhati. She looked solid in every aspect of the game, controlling the pace without any fuss. While her baseline game came to the fore during the semifinal, her delicate netplay took the centrestage in the final.<br /><br />Leading 19-12, Trupti, executed a perfect smash to extend the lead by eight points in the opener and finished it off when Arundhati committed an unforced error. <br />The second game was again heading into another one-way traffic when Trupti opened up a 16-7 lead but Arundhati made a brilliant comeback by winning six staright points.<br />Showing no signs of pressure, Trupti notched up match with a lob over the net before completing victory with neat flick over the net.<br /><br />Results (all finals): Men’s singles: Anup Sridhar (PSPB) bt Saurabh Verma (MP) 21-19, 20-22, 21-15.<br />Doubles: Pranav Chopra (AI)/ Tarun K (AP) bt Akshay Dewalkar (AI)/ Arun Vishnu (Ker) 21-18, 12-21, 21-19.<br />Women’s singles: Trupti Murgunde (PSPB) bt Arundhati Pantawane (Mah) 21-12, 21-18.<br />Doubles: Aparna Balan (PSPB)/ Prajakta Sawant (Mah) bt Jwala Gutta (PSPB)/ Ashwini Ponnappa (Kar) 21-19, 21-11.<br />Mixed doubles: Arun Vishnu (Ker)/ Aparna Balan (PSPB) bt Pranav Chopra (AI)/ Prajakta Sawant (Mah) 21-16, 18-21, 21-19.</p>
<p>Three-time National champion Sridhar, who last won a title way back in January 2008 at the Pramod Mahajan memorial tournament in Delhi, gave a boost to his confidence, defeating upcoming youngster Saurabh Verma 21-19, 20-22, 21-15 in a fiesty final at the KGS Club courts.<br /><br />Reigning national champion Trupti Murgunde outclassed Arundhati Pantawane 21-12, 21-18 in the women’s final while fancied Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa lost the women’s doubles final 19-21, 11-21 to second-seeded pair of Aparna Balan and Prajakta Sawant.<br /><br />“This is indeed the confidence-booster that I needed,” said Sridhar, who has been troubled by a nagging left ankle injury after he first fractured it in July 2008. “I have been struggling to make an impact since 2008 when titles just dried up. <br /><br />“I felt really shattered, but I am happy that all the hard work paid off here. I was focused and determined and now am hopeful of doing well in the upcoming tournaments, although I am still far from being fully fit.”<br /><br />PSPB’s Sridhar indeed looked far from his best against a gritty Verma but managed to cross the distance thanks to his experience. Sridhar’s persistent assualt was countered brilliantly by the fast-moving Verma. The Madhya Pradesh lad kept retrieving everything thrown at him but eventually ran out of steam in the deciding game. <br /><br />After opening an 8-1 lead in the opening game and seemingly in control, Verma suddenly lost his rhythm as Sridhar clawed back to race away to a 17-13 lead before clinching the opener. The second game was a more closely fought affair with neither willing to give an inch. A well-executed smash gave Verma game point and the MP lad levelled proceedings at 1-1 after a Sridhar stroke hit the net.<br /><br />His efforts in the first two games seemed to have taken a heavy toll on Verma as a cool and calm Sridhar quickly marched to 17-5 lead in the decider. Just when everyone thought the 27-year-old Sridhar had pocketed the title, Verma added spice to the drama winning five straight points. However, Sridhar halted Verma’s charge with a powerful smash right down the centre, ending his barren run.<br /><br />Easy ride<br />As for top-seeded Trupti, the PSPB shuttler hardly broke a sweat in dismantling seventh seed Arundhati. She looked solid in every aspect of the game, controlling the pace without any fuss. While her baseline game came to the fore during the semifinal, her delicate netplay took the centrestage in the final.<br /><br />Leading 19-12, Trupti, executed a perfect smash to extend the lead by eight points in the opener and finished it off when Arundhati committed an unforced error. <br />The second game was again heading into another one-way traffic when Trupti opened up a 16-7 lead but Arundhati made a brilliant comeback by winning six staright points.<br />Showing no signs of pressure, Trupti notched up match with a lob over the net before completing victory with neat flick over the net.<br /><br />Results (all finals): Men’s singles: Anup Sridhar (PSPB) bt Saurabh Verma (MP) 21-19, 20-22, 21-15.<br />Doubles: Pranav Chopra (AI)/ Tarun K (AP) bt Akshay Dewalkar (AI)/ Arun Vishnu (Ker) 21-18, 12-21, 21-19.<br />Women’s singles: Trupti Murgunde (PSPB) bt Arundhati Pantawane (Mah) 21-12, 21-18.<br />Doubles: Aparna Balan (PSPB)/ Prajakta Sawant (Mah) bt Jwala Gutta (PSPB)/ Ashwini Ponnappa (Kar) 21-19, 21-11.<br />Mixed doubles: Arun Vishnu (Ker)/ Aparna Balan (PSPB) bt Pranav Chopra (AI)/ Prajakta Sawant (Mah) 21-16, 18-21, 21-19.</p>
