The Hindu : Sport / Badminton : Indian challenge ends

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Sunday, Dec 19, 2010
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Sport - Badminton

Indian challenge ends

V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD: It was an evening of a reality-check for the only two Indians in the fray.

And, Parupalli Kashyap and Pusarla Venkata Sindhu failed to get through, signalling the end of Indian challenge in the India Open Grand Prix badminton championship at the KVBR Indoor Stadium here on Saturday.

First, fifth-seeded Ratnasari Frarnsiska ended the fine run of the unseeded Sindhu with a 17-21, 21-17, 21-15 win in the women's singles quarterfinals.

And in the last match of the evening, to the dismay of the large crowd, it was the turn of third-seeded Kashyap to go down against the top-seeded Rumbaka Hayom Dionysius of Indonesia 19-21, 13-21 in the men's singles quarterfinals.

Stunning returns

The Indonesian who not only matched Kashyap's big smashes, but came up with some stunning returns and as the game progressed combined his aggression with the delicate touch at the net.

A vastly superior net game came in handy for him the few times the Indian threatened to come back into the game.

With Rumbaka taking a 6-2 lead straight away in the first game, it turned out to be difficult for the hometown hero to make amends. Kashyap did essay some of his trademark shots, but it increasingly becoming obvious that he had to raise the level of his game to a different level. And that did not happen as Rumbaka soon came up with a few impressive half-smashes which left the Indian stunned quite a few times.

If the turn-around was expected by the Indian camp in the second game, Rumbaka had other intentions.

Looking slightly relaxed to start with, he switched gear to literally dictate terms to Kashyap.

Unseeded Avihingsanon of Thailand continued his dream run, disposing off the challenge of fourth-seeded Yunus Alamsyah of Indonesia with a methodical 21-14, 23-21 win.

Liu, Jinhua win

In the mixed doubles too, the Indian challenge was over, when Peixuan Liu and Tang Jinhua of China defeated Kona Tarun and Ashwini Ponappa 21-12, 21-18 in the quarterfinal.

The results:

All semifinals:

Men's singles: Avihingsanon Suppanyu (Tha) bt Yunus Alamsyah (Ina) 21-14, 23-21; Rumbaka Hayom Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka (Indonesia) bt P Kashyap (India) 21-19, 21-13.

Men's doubles: Teik Chai Gan & Bin Shen Tan (Mas) bt Agripinna Prima Rahamanto Putra & Ricky Karanda Suwardi (Ina) 21-23, 21-12, 21-9; Mohd Ahsan & Bona Septani (Ina) bt Chayut Triyachart & Hendri Kurniawan Saputra (Sing) 21-18, 25-27, 21-13.

Women: Singles: Hui Zhou (Chn) bt Ana Rovita (Ina) 15-21, 21-14, 21-14; Ratnasari Fransiska (Indonesia) bt P. V. Sindhu 17-21, 21-17, 21-15.

Doubles: Hui Ern Ng & Hui Lin Ng (Mas) bt Della Destiara Haris & Andini Suci Rizki (Ina) 21-14, 21-19; Xia Huan & Jinhua Tant (Chn) bt Anneke Feinya Agustin & Annisa Wahyuni (Ina) 13-21, 21-18, 21-12

Mixed doubles: Teik Chai Gan & Ng Hui Lin (Mas) bt Chayut Triyachart & Yu Yan Vanessa Neo 21-17, 21-17; Liu Peixuan & Jinhua Tan (Chn) bt Kona Tarun & Ashwini Ponnappa (Ind) 21-12, 21-18 .

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