Tags:
Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, FEB 9: Srikant Bakshi of Railways nursed a long-standing ambition to play in the final of a senior National Championships. But all these years, he has failed in his mission. Today, his luck held and he realised what has been a mere dream.
The tenacious fighter in him brought out the best as he toppled last year8217;s runner-up Abhinn Shyam Gupta in a 90-minute duel for a 10-15, 15-13, 15-9 verdict to set up a title-clash with top seed P Gopi Chand of Andhra Pradesh.
Gopi Chand had to overcome a stubborn Sachin Ratti, another Railwayman, 9-15, 15-10, 15-5 in a 70-minute battle.
In the women8217;s section, former champion PVV Lakshmi accounted for No 2 seed Manjusha Kanwar 11-8, 0-11, 11-4, while top seed Aparna Popat was stretched by Neelima Chowdary before the former won 11-8, 13-11.
There were two upsets in men8217;s doubles as No 2 pair of George Thomas and Marcose Bristow bowed out in the quarter-finals to Bhushan Akut and Bakshi. But the latter failed cross the semi-final hurdle. Similarly, Railways8217; Vinod Kumar and Roy Mathew downed No 3 Deepak Amarnath and Jaison Xavier but the former lost out in the semi-finals.
After leading 4-2 in the first game of the singles semi-final, Bakshi could not keep pace with Gupta8217;s ploy of long rally-game. Once Gupta levelled 4-4, things went out of Bakshi8217;s reach as the Air-India employee won comfortably.
But in the second, Bakshi, trailing by two points at 2-4, levelled and then changed gear to pick seven on the trot before conceding one. Gupta continued to rally and levelled at 13. But once service changed, Bakshi was able to pick the last two points to bring some sanity to his game.
As he admitted later, this gave the confidence and holding his nerves, Bakshi rode on the luck of some negative play by his opponent to run up a quick lead of 6-3, 10-3. Thereafter, Gupta found the going tough even as he picked two more points before Bakshi closed in.
In the other semi-final, down 2-3 at one time, Ratti converted Gopi Chand8217;s net dribble to his advantage to lead 8-6. Thereafter, it was Ratti all the way in the first game.
In the second, too, Gopi Chand failed to come into his groove until he went up 4-2. But he found Ratti pose a serious threat at 9-11. Gopi Chand just allowed him one more point before he shut out the challenge.
And in the third, the champion was too good as Ratti picked five points off him.
RESULTS
Men8217;s Singles semi-finals: P Gopi Chand AP bt Sachin Ratti Rly 9-15, 15-10, 15-5; Srikant Bakshi Rly bt Abhinn Shyam Gupta A-I 10-15, 15-3, 15-9; Quarter-finals: Gopi Chand bt Mangresh Palekar Rly 15-1, 17-16; Ratti bt Madhur Kalia Dli 10-15, 15-13, 15-1; Gupta bt Ajit Wijetilak Kar 15-7, 15-9; Bakshi b Anuj Gupta Guj 15-6, 15-13.
Doubles semi-finals: Jaseel P Ismail/Vincent Lobo BAI bt Vinod Kumar/Roy Mathew Rly 15-5, 9-15, 17-14; Rajeev Bagga/Vijaydeep Singh BAI bt Bhushan Akut/Srikant Bakshi 15-0, 15-4; Quarter-finals: JP Ismail/Vincent Lobo bt Harish Chander/OP Singh Rly 15-5, 15-5; V Kumar/R Mathew bt Deepak Amarnath/Jaison Xavier Ker 15-3, 15-3; R Bagga/VD Singh bt Amrish Shinde/Mayur Ghatnekar Rly 10-15, 15-7, 15-6; B Akut/S Bakshi bt George Thomas/Markose Bristow Ker 15-3, 15-6.
Women8217;s Singles semi-finals: Aparna Popat Kar bt Nileema Chowdary AP 11-8, 13-11; PVV Lakshmi AP bt Manjusha Kanwar Mah 11-8, 0-11, 11-4; Quarter-finals: Popat bt Nirmala Kotnis A-I 11-0, 11-2; N Chowdary bt BR Meenakshi Rly 11-3, 6-11, 11-9; PVV Lakshmi bt Sampada Shetty A-I 11-8, 9-11, 11-6; Kanwar bt Krishna Hazarika Asm 11-0, 11-1.
Doubles semi-finals: Manjusha/Archana Mah bt Madhumita Bisht/N Chowdary BAI 15-12, 15-8; A Popat/Manju T Abraham bt Vinaya Shetty/BR Meenakshi 12-15, 15-11, 15-11; Quarter-finals: Manjusha/Archana bt KetkiThakkar/D Sweta A-I 15-4, 15-3; M Bisht/N Chowdary b S Shetty/Mathali Grande A-I 15-5, 15-7; V Shetty/Meenakshi bt PVV Lakshmi/G Sharda 15-12, 15-9; A Popat/MT Abraham bt K Hazarika/N Kotnis Asm 15-5, 15-11.
