The Hindu : Sport / Badminton : Thomas Kurien, Aparna emerge champions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 13, 2004

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Sport - Badminton

Thomas Kurien, Aparna emerge champions

By Our Sports Reporter

KOZHIKODE, AUG. 12. The 2002 Scottish Open finalist Thomas Kurien is the new State senior men's badminton champion. The 25-year-old top seed from Ernakulam beat teammate and defending champion K.A. Aneesh 15-6, 15-12 in the men's singles final at the V.K. Krishna Menon Indoor Stadium here on Thursday.

Second-seeded Aneesh did put up a strong fight in the second game, but Thomas proved too good for him. "Yes, that game was close and could've gone either way,'' said Thomas Kurien, a former India No. 6.

Aparna Balan had an easier time in the women's singles final. The top-seeded local lass made short work of Fathima Nazneen Mohammed of Thiruvananthapuram 11-5, 11-1 to take her third women's singles title. ``I wasn't really stretched today,'' admitted India's No. 1 junior player.

She expectedly scored a double, winning the women's doubles pairing up with Fathima. The formidable duo defeated the Thrissur sisters, Merit and Miral George, 15-9, 15-1.

The men's doubles title went to Sanave Thomas and Jaseel P. Ismail of the host, India's No. 1 and 5 respectively in doubles. They beat George Thomas and K.A. Aneesh of Ernakulam 15-3, 8-15, 15-7.

The results: Men (final): Thomas Kurien (Ekm) bt K.A. Aneesh (Ekm) 15-6, 15-12. Semifinals: Thomas Kurien bt Joy T. Antony (Ekm) 15-4, 15-13; K.A. Aneesh bt Jaison Xavier (Ekm) 15-2 (conceded). Doubles (final): Jaseel P. Ismail/Sanave Thomas (Kzde) bt George Thomas/K.A. Aneesh (Ekm) 15-3, 8-15, 15-7.

Women (final): Aparna Balan (Kzde) bt Fathima Nazneen Mohammed (Tvm) 11-5, 11-1. Semifinals: Aparna Balan bt Merit George (Tsr) 11-2, 11-3; Fathima Mohammed bt M. Sruthi (Kzde) 11-3, 11-2. Doubles (final): Aparna Balan/Fathima (Kzde) bt Merit George/Miral George (Tsr) 15-9, 15-1.

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