Chetan, Thomas in title clash

CHENNAI, Nov 22: On yet another day marred by the age row, second seed Air-India shuttler Chetan Anand and Railways Thomas Kurien entered th...

CHENNAI, Nov 22: On yet another day marred by the age row, second seed Air-India shuttler Chetan Anand and Railways Thomas Kurien entered the finals, benefitting most from the absence of reigning champion Sachin Ratti and top seed Abhin Shyam Gupta, scratched due to overage, in the 23rd Junior National badminton championships at the SAF Games indoor stadium here today.Chetan Anand beat unseeded Delhi shuttler Madhur Kalia 15-5 15-9 while Thomas Kurien, seeded four, trounced Andhra Pradesh8217;s A Prithvi 15-7 15-4.

However, the age row cropped up again on the distaff side when the reigning girls champion, top seed Divya Ramesh refused to take the court in the semi final match against Railways BR Meenakshi, seeded second, demanding in a letter to the organising committee that Meenakshi8217;s medical examination certificate, X-ray report and court order which had certified her age be given to her. She took court after the medical report was given to her along with an assurance in writing that the X-ray and the courtorder would be given after receiving the same from BAI.

Totally out of sorts, Divya then went on to lose the semi-final to Meenakshi 11-9 9-11 0-11 while in the other match, fourth seeded D Swetha of Air-India ousted Mugdha Bhagwat Maharashtra 11-5 11-9 to set up a title clash with Meenakshi tomorrow.

Results
Boys singles semis: Chetan Anand A-I bt Madhur Kalia Del 15-5 15-9; Thomas Kurien Rlys bt A Prithvi AP 15-7 15-4; Q/F: A Prithvi bt V Diju Ker 15-12 17-16; Thomas Kurien bt Rupesh Kumar Ker 15-7 17-14; Madhur Kalia bt Arup Baidya Rly 15-8 9-15 15-6; Chetan Anand bt Utsav Misra UP 15-3 15-6.

Girls singles semis: D Swetha A-I bt Mugdha Bhagwat Mah 11-9 11-2; BR Meenakshi Rly bt Divya Ramesh A-I 9-11 11-9 11-0; Q/F: Divya Ramesh bt Aditi Biswas Ktk 11-0 11-5; BR Meenakshi bt Oli Deka Ass 11-8 11-0; D Swetha bt Pooja Patil Ktk 11-3 11-5; Mugdha Bhagwat Mah bt BN Ashwini Ktk 11-3 11-4.

Boys doubles semis: Sanave Thomas/V Diju Ker bt MadhurKalia/Arjun Kalia Del 15-5 15-1; Chetan Anand/Mitesh Hazarnis A-I bt J Santosh/Sathya Prabas TN 15-4 15-9. Girls doubles semis: BR Meenakshi/ Parul Priyadarshini Rly bt Trupti Murgunde/ Gauri Narayan Mah 15-7 15-5; Devi Suma/ Fathima Mohammed Ker bt D Swetha/ Ketaki Thakkar A-I 15-10 8-15 15-3.

Mixed doubles semis: Ketaki Thakkar/ Mitesh Hazarnis A-I beat Sim Sim Salaria/ Bhushan Paithankar Mah 15-11 15-12; BR Meenakshi/Arup Baidya Rly bt Anumol Joy/Sanave Thomas Ker 15-8 15-2.

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Age row blot on badmminton: PrakashExecutive president of the Badminton Association of India BAI and former Indian ace Prakash Padukone lamented the unseemly age row in the competition this year, and announced after a meeting with the organising committee that the result of the team championship won by Railways would not be altered.

He said the committee had turned down the demand lodged by Kerala and Assam with the former contending that it along with Assam be declared joint winners of the teamtitle, as Abhin Shyam Gupta of Air-India and JBS Vidyadhar of Andhra Pradesh were found overage. Prakash also said the BAI8217;s annual general body meeting during the senior nationals in February would deliberate and try to find out a way out of the disputes over age. These things only tarnish the image of badminton, in which the country was looking up again following the good showing in the Commonwealth Games, Prakash lamented.

Parents as well as the players have to cooperate, he added.