Trupti scripts a maiden success

MUMBAI, Aug 2: Trupti Murgunde, playing for the first time in the senior circuit, swept past Nazneen Karimi to clinch the Maharashtra Sta...

MUMBAI, Aug 2: Trupti Murgunde, playing for the first time in the senior circuit, swept past Nazneen Karimi to clinch the Maharashtra State Senior Selection badminton tournament.

The 16-year-old Pune girl used 20 minutes and plenty of enterprise to achieve a 11-6, 11-0 maiden title win at the MIG Cricket Club today.

In a dramatic match of swinging fortunes, Nikhil Kanetkar was quot;luckyquot; to survive an hour long test from Rajeev Bagga before he could lay his hands on the title. Kanetkar prevailed 14-17, 15-0, 15-13.

The serve changed hands six times at 13-13 in the decider before the top seed set up match point with a stinging backhand and then closed the match when Bagga played onto the line.

The match gave indications of a dramatic finish right from the first game itself. Kanetkar ran into a 6-0 lead before the veteran former national champion found his groove. Bagga pulled back to 4-6, but trailed again at 8-12 only to equalise at 13-13. Kanetkar managed to save five game points before Bagga could gethold of the game.

The second game disappointed the packed gathering, excited after the first game heroics. An exhausted Bagga just gave up at 0-8 down and Kanetkar walked away 15-0.

Bagga started the decider with a casual back-to-the-net return that took Kanetkar by surprise and left the crowd in raptures. Bagga stayed in lead almost throughout the game, at 7-3, 12-6 and 13-9.

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An error in line judgment started the slide for Bagga and the recovery for the India No 3. Kanetkar, who rarely plays doubles, teamed up with Vincent Lobo to clinch the doubles title as well.

Murgunde magic: Murgunde, who spent a useful three months at the Padukone Academy in Bangalore recently, barely broke sweat against the left-handed second seed. The Pune girl took six minutes to wrap up the second game, thus avenging the three-game loss she had suffered to Karimi sometime back.

Karimi, however, had a consolation win in the doubles, pairing with Asawari Patwardhan to defeat Sim Sim Salaria and KrantiSane.

RESULTS ALL FINALS

Men8217;s singles: Nikhil Kanetkar Pune bt Rajeev Bagga Mumbai 14-17, 15-0, 15-13.

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Doubles: Nikhil Kanetkar/Vincent Lobo bt Bhushan Akut/Leroy D8217;Sa 8-15, 15-1, 15-13.

Women8217;s singles: Trupti Murgunde Pune bt Nazneen Karimi 11-6, 11-0.

Doubles: Asavari Patwardhan/Nazneen Karimi bt Kranti Sane/Sim Sim Salaria 15-12, 15-11.