Abhinn, Vijay in title clash

PUNE, Jan 7: Top seeded Abhinsham Gupta of Air India will clash with Vijay Lancy of Maharashtra in the finals of the men's singles in the...

PUNE, Jan 7: Top seeded Abhinsham Gupta of Air India will clash with Vijay Lancy of Maharashtra in the finals of the men8217;s singles in the Vth VV Natu Memorial All India Badminton Tournament organised by the PDMBA.

In the semi-finals Abhinsham ousted teammate B Kiran Kumar in straight games 15-5, 15-7. A well fought tussle, lasting 41 minutes, saw Kiran Kumar put on a brave fight giving nothing away. However the top seeded Abhinsham has proved his ranking in the tournament so far.

In the other semi-final Vijay Lancy of Maharashtra won in identical fashion in two straight games over compatriot Nimesh Goyal 15-9, 15-2. After winning the first set with a little effort the second was easy going for him. His accurate baseline serves and smashes were too good for Nimesh to handle. Nimesh conceded with only two points to his credit.

In the women8217;s section top seeded Manjusha Kanwar of Maharashtra will lock horns with second seed PVV Laxmi of Andhra Pradesh for the women8217;s title.

Manjusha Kanwar downed Nirmala Kotnis 11-5, 11-6 in a 25 minute long encounter. PVV Laxmi8217;s victory over Archana Deodhar was rather effortless, the former winning in straight games 11-2, 11-2.

Results
Women: Singles: S/F: Manjusha Kanwar Mah b Nirmala Kotnis AI 11-5, 11-6; PVV Laxmi AP b Archana Deodhar Mah 11-2, 11-2.
Doubles: Q/F: Manjusha Kanwar and Archana Deodhar Mah b Pashmina Desai and Jayashree Bedarkar Mah 15-3, 15-4; Vinaya Shetty and Kirti Kadam Rly b Kranti Sane and Sim Sim Salaria Mah 15-3, 15-1; Ketaki Thakar and D Sweta AI b M Radhika and C H Deepti AP 15-6, 15-9; PVV Laxmi and G Sharda Reddy AP b Trupti Murgunde and Meena Patwardhan Mah 15-5, 15-5.

MEN: Singles S/F: Abhinsham Gupta AI b Kiran Kumar AI 15-5, 15-7; Vijay Lancy Mah b Nimesh Goyal Mah 15-9, 15-2.
Q/F: Abhinsham Gupta AI b Amrish Shinde Rly 15-17, 15-11, 15-0; B Kiran Kumar AI b B Chetanand AI 15-6, 11-15, 15-6; Nimesh Goyal Mah b JBS Vidyadhar Rly 15-10, 15-1; Vijay Lancy Mah b Parag More AI 15-13, 15-8.