Aparna, Neelima in title clash

Chennai, July 16: The overnight heroes Sachin Ratti and Nikhil Kanetkar came up with an impressive show but not good enough to extend the...

Chennai, July 16: The overnight heroes Sachin Ratti and Nikhil Kanetkar came up with an impressive show but not good enough to extend their streak. The Malaysians Lee Tsuen Seng and Yoeh Key Bin raised their level of game when it mattered to set up the title clash in the Indianoil-Servo Asian Satellite Badminton Championship at the Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium on Thursday.

Aparna Popat will take on Neelima Choudary in the women8217;s singles final. In two semifinals of contrasting styles, Aparna8217;s unruffled methods won her the day against P V V Lakshmi while Neelima overcame an indifferent start and a doughty opponent in Manjusha Kanwar.

Kanetkar8217;s bout of aggression early on had Yeoh scurry for cover. The sliced forehand shots had so much sting and one wondered from where the youngster was able to generate that power. The area where Yeoh scored was in the net and the acutely angled returns went well with his drops which he used as a surprising weapon.

Sachin Ratti up against the second seed Lee Tsuen Sengwas undone by the pace set by the southpaw. Trying to slow down things was his undoing as Lee relished the long rallies while biding his time to sink in those tantalising drops. With Lee8217;s percentage of winners matching his court mobility, Ratti8217;s problems looked multi-fold.

Lakshmi, having finished on the wrong end of the scoreline in the two meetings against Aparna this year, seemed that little keen to settle scores. Bothered by a persistent knee problem the last two years, Lakshmi was all grit trying to engage Aparna in the baseline. Lakshmi8217;s discomfiture was palpable when Aparna slipped in those drops as part of her game strategy.

Neelima8217;s win over Manjusha was hardly surprising for such was her consistency in the last few days. With her long reach as her ally, Neelima covered the court admirably and her retrieving abilities from seemingly hopeless situations was to help her cause.

Results

Men8217;s singles semifinals: Yeoh Kay Bin Mal bt Nikhil Kanetkar India 17-16, 15-7; LeeTsuen Seng Mal bt Sachin Ratti India 15-12, 15-10.

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Doubles semifinals: Chan Chong Mong-Gerimy Gan Mal bt George Thomas-Marcose Bristow India 15-4, 15-6; Jaseel Ismail-Vincent Lobo India bt U Vinodkumar-Roy Mathew India 15-8, 15-11.

Women8217;s singles semifinals: Aparna Popat India bt P V V Lakshmi India 11-4, 13-11; Neelima Choudary India bt Manjusha Kanwar India 7-11, 11-6, 11-5.

Doubles semifinals: Madhumita Bisht-P V V Lakshmi India bt Krante Sane-Sim Sim Silaria India 15-1, 15-5; Manjusha Kanwar-Archana Deodar India bt Pooja Parikh-Neelima Choudary India 15-11, 15-5.