Anup, Saina crowned champions

New Delhi, January 6 : Saina Nehwal claims to have no superstitions before a match, but admits she is a person who prays fervently. Today, though, she needed no divine intervention in her final match against Sayali Gokhale. The top seed demolished giant killer Sayali, who had defeated second seed Trupti Murgunde earlier, in straight games of 21-10, 21-14 to win the Pramod Mahajan Senior National ranking tournament title.

In the men’s final, top seed Anup Sridhar was up against JBS Vidyadhar, who had beaten him at the Pune national ranking tournament last month. This time, however, there was to be no upset, and India’s No. 1 won the title 21-16, 21-14.

Both Anup and Saina got Rs 1.10 lakh each for their efforts. They received the cheques from former President Abdul Kalam, who was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony.

Sayali was leading at the beginning of both games, but in neither of these did her advantage last long. Saina was flawless with her judgment, and it was a perfect smash that landed at the feet of her opponent that won her the first game.

As the second game progressed, it was Saina who was playing catch up, trailing 5-8 at one point. The first time the 17-year-old took the lead at 11-10, and from that moment, the going got much tougher for Sayali. The Pune player could not deal with the power of Saina’s smashes, and many times, she nodded her head in admiration at her opponent’s accuracy. Saina continued her march, and it was a smash that landed just inside the line that wrapped up the match and the title 21-10, 21-14.

“Today I had an easy match. I think yesterday’s contest was more like the final. I have played her (Sayali) many times before and I know how she plays. I am happy with the way I played and I think I had a very good tournament,” said Saina, speaking after her victory. Later, Saina and Aparna Balan won the women’s doubles title with a 21-10, 21-18 victory over Anita Ohlan and Dhanya Nair.

Top seeds Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas faced a fight for the men’s doubles crown, but eventually defeated V Diju and Akshaye Dewalkar 16-21, 21-19, 21-14.

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