Sparring time for big three

KOCHI, FEB 28: Indiaacirc;euro;trade;s top three players, Pullela Gopi Chand, Nikhil Kanetkar and Abhinn Shyam Gupta, had good practice...

KOCHI, FEB 28: Indiaacirc;euro;trade;s top three players, Pullela Gopi Chand, Nikhil Kanetkar and Abhinn Shyam Gupta, had good practice in the Indian Oil Servo National Badminton Championship here on Monday after facing a semblance of resistance in one game each in the pre-quarterfinals.

Gopi, who has so far progressed without breaking sweat, was down 2-5 in the first game against Mangrish Palekar Maharashtra. He must have felt good after the match, as he got some valuable practice during the 57-minute 15-12 15-5 encounter.

Left-handed Nikhil Kanetkar was tested in the first game by southpaw Joy T Antony Kerala before winning 15-11, 15-4 in 45 minutes. 8220;It was good that I had only one game each to play on the last two days,8221; said Kanetkar. 8220;This gives me time to get into the bigger tests when I have to play two matches tomorrow.8221;

Abhinn, PSCB8217;s new recruit playing under the BAI tag, won a tight match against Srikant Bakshi Railways 15-12, 15-10.

For the home supporters, Jaison Xavier8217;s loss to Vijay Lancy from a comfortable position was disappointing. Xavier squadered four match-pointsto lose the most exciting match of the day. Lancy8217;s height and better reach helped him at crucial stages as a tiring Xavier lost 15-8, 14-15, 2-15 in one hour and two minutes.

Results Men singles PQF:P Gopi Chand PSCB bt Mangrish Palekar Mah 15-12 15-5; Sachin Ratti Rly bt Sanave Thomas Ker 15-7 15-6; Siddharth Jain PSCB bt Thomas Kurien Ker 17-15 15-7; Chetan Anand A-I bt Arup Baidya Rly 15-7 15-1; Vijay Lancy PSCB bt Jaison Xavier Ker 8-15 15-14 15-2; Abhinn Shyam Gupta BAI bt Srikant Bakshi Rly 15-12 15-10; Nikhil Kanetkar PSCB bt Joy Antony Ker 15-11 15-4; Ajit Wijetilak PSCB bt JBS Vidyadhar AP 15-13 15-6.

Men doubles PQF: Jaseel Ismail/ Vincent Lobo PSCB bt U Vimalkumar/ Vinay BSB 15-9 15-3; Roopesh Kumar/ H Nishant Ker bt Mitesh Rly/ Vidyadhar AP 8-15 15-5 15-12; Ajit Wijetilak/ Jose bt Souman B/ HK Sengupta WB 15-9 15-0; Bhushan Akut/ Vijay Lancy Mah bt Bhaskar/ T Yabang Asm 15-4 17-14; Deepak A/ Jaison Xavier Ker bt Thomas K/ Joy Antony Ker 15-3 16-17 15-9; Rajeev Bagga/ Srikant Bakshi Mah bt Anirudh/ Milind G 17-14 17-16; Vijaydeep Singh/ Markose Bristow bt NS Prakash/ BG Kiran Ktk 15-4 15-7.

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Women singles PQF: Aparna Popat PSCB bt Krupa Telang Mah 11-0 11-3; Ketki Thakkar A-I bt Krishna Hazarika Asm 11-3 7-2 conceded; PVV Lakshmi PSCB bt Pooja Patil Karnataka 11-8 11-4; Divya Ramesh LIC bt Merit George Ker 11-1 11-5; Leena Pednekar LIC bt Aditi Biswas Kar 11-7 11-2; Manjusha Kanwar PSCB bt Shruti Kurien AP 11-6 8-11 11-3; Neelima Choudhary PSCB bt G Jwala AP 11-4 13-10; BR Meenakshi Kar bt Nupura Bhide Mah 11-3 11-0. 3rd round: Aparna Popat PSCB bt Ruchi Kapil UP 11-1 11-0; Leena Pednekar Goa bt Meenakshi Wagh Mah 11-1 11-2; Krupa Telang Mah bt Sridevi Gagil Kar 11-0 11-4; Aditi Biswas Kar bt Preethi Gupta JK 11-1 11-1; Ketki Tiwari A-I bt Barnali Raha WB 11-4 10-13 11-6; Sruthi Kurien AP bt Devi Suma Ker 11-8 11-4; Krishna Hazarika Asm bt Sampada Shetye Rly 11-9 11-6; Manjusha Kanwar PSCB bt BR Kokila 11-4 11-3; PVV Lakshmi PSCB bt Krishna Deka Raja Asm 11-1 11-7; G Jwala AP bt Anumol Joy Ker 11-8 11-7; PoojaPatil Kar bt Tanuja Begum Rly 7-11 13-10 11-2; Nupura Bide Mah bt Oli Deka Asm 4-11 13-10 11-2; Divya Ramesh LIC bt Neha Gangolli Mah 11-2 6-11 11-7; BR Meenakshi Kar bt Poonam Tiwari UP 11-1 11-4.

Women doubles PQF: Madhumita B Rly/ PVV Lakshmi PSCB bt Meetha B/ Krishna D Pjb 15-4 15-2; Devi Suma/ Fatima M Ker bt Vinaya Shetty/ Nazneen Rly 15-7 13-15 15-0; Sim Sim S/ Nupura B Mah w/o Ketki T/ Trupti M A-I; BR Meenakshi Ktk/ Tanuja Begum Rly bt Oli Deka Asm/ Leena P Goa 15-2 15-2; Neelima Choudhary/ D Swetha bt Manju George LIC/ Krishna Hazarika Asm 15-8 15-7; Manjusha K/ Archana D PSCB w/o Amrutha B/ Debashree WB; Samapada M/ Madhavi K Rly bt Pooja Patil Kar 15-5, 15-4, Jwala G/ Sruthi Kurien AP bt Poonam/ Juhi Verma UP 15-2 15-6.