Phoenix-esque Mutatkar clinches semis berth

Aditi Mutatkar once again showed her ability to rise from a career-threatening injury to challenge the best in the country when she upset top seed Arundhati Pantawane 20-22,21-16,21-16 to reach the semifinals of the VV Natu Memorial Amanora All India Senior Ranking Badminton tournament at the PE Society’s Modern PDMBA sports complex.

There was no hint of rustiness as Mutatkar put behind the disappointment of losing the first game from a winning position to set up a semifinal against city-mate and reigning national champion Sayali Gokhale,who defeated Trupti Murgunde 21-15,11-3 (retd) in the other quarterfinal.

The second semifinal will see second seed Tanvi Lad take on third seed PC Thulasi. Lad rallied from a game behind to overcome fifth seed Neha Pandit 16-21,21-15,23-21 in a marathon 74 minute encounter,while Thulasi hammered Riya Pillai 21-18,21-7. In the men’s section,top seed B Sai Praneeth will face Youth Olympic silver medalist HS Prannoy in the first semifinal while the second semifinal will feature third seed RMV Gurusaidutt and Thailand Grand Prix winner K Srikanth.