Delhi to face UP in final

CHANDIGARH, Feb 16: Defending champions Delhi and Uttar Pradesh scored victories over their respective opponents to set up title-clash in...

CHANDIGARH, Feb 16: Defending champions Delhi and Uttar Pradesh scored victories over their respective opponents to set up title-clash in the men8217;s team championships of the North Zone Audit and Account General Badminton Tournament which began at the Sector 42 Indoor Hall here today. Delhi outplayed Shimla 3-1 while UP blanked Haryana A and E, 3-0.

The final, however, would be a keen contest as both Delhi and UP would go outright for a win for different reasons. Delhi wants to retain the title while UP would avenge their defeat they suffered at the hands of Delhi in the last edition of the meet.

Both the teams had scored facile wins in the quarter-finals.

In the semifinal today, UP8217;s Dinesh Kapoor beat Raman of Haryana A and E 15-2, 15-9 while Deepak Saxena defeated Parveen 15-6, 15-4, to consolidate the lead.

In the doubles Deepak and Salil combined well to score 15-3, 15-5 win over Raman and Parveen.

Delhi, however, began their medal hunt on a sound note, winning both the singles. Arul got the better of Manoj 15-1, 15-6 while Vijay Sharma outclassed Deepak Sharma 15-7, 15-7. But the team faced a set back when the duo of Vijay and Sudram lost to Manoj and Deepak 6-15, 5-15.

However, in the reverse singles, Sunil Yadav beat Ajay Kumar 15-3, 15-3, to win the contest and book a berth in the final.

The finals will be played tomorrow.

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Results
Team Championship
Men
Quarterfinals: Delhi bt Punjab A and E 3-0 Arul Sudram bt Lav Kumar 15-3, 15-7; Sunil Yadav bt Sujit Choudhary 15-3, 15-4; Sunil and Sudram bt Lav Kumar and Umesh 15-5, 15-7; Uttar Pradesh bt Jammu and Kashmir 3-0 Dinesh Kapoor bt Sanjay Sharma 15-1, 15-1; Deepak bt Arvind Dogra 15-1, 15-0; Salil and Deepak t Sanjay and Arvind 15-5, 5-4; Haryana A and E bt Punjab Audit 3-0 Parveen bt Sudhir 15-3, 15-8; Raman bt Anil 15-7, 5-6; Parveen and Raman bt Sudhir and Palam Ram 15-3, 15-2; Shimla bt Haryana Audit 3-0 Manoj bt AP Chopy 15-2, 15-3; Deepak bt Vinod 15-4, 15-3; Manoj and Deepak bt AP Chopy and Harish Kumar 15-2, 15-3.

Semi-finals: UP bt Haryana A and E 3-0 Dinesh Kapoor bt Raman 15-2, 15-9; Deepak Saxena bt Parveen 15-6, 15-4; Deepak and Salil bt Raman and Parveen 15-3, 15-5; Delhi bt Shimla 3-1 Arul bt Manoj 15-1, 15-6; Vijay bt Deepak Sharma 15-7, 15-7; Vijay and Sudram lost to Manoj and Deepak 6-15, 5-15; Sunil Yadav bt Ajay Kanwar 15-3, 15-3.