Malaysian Chung, Japanese Kanako lift gold

Guwahati, Dec 5 (UNI) Malaysian Chung Wei Pei drubbed India's star shuttler and top seed Chetan Anand to lift the men's single title in the India International Challenge Badminton here today.

He defeated Anand in 21-18, 20-22 and 21-15 sets.

In women's single also, the Indian challenge in the form of top seeded Saina Nehwal proved no match to Japanese girl Kanako Yonekera, with Kanako emerging the champion in well under 45 minutes. Kanako won the match with a score line of 21-13 and 21-18. Though Saina tried to make a come back in the second game and showed some signs of brilliance, the lanky experienced Japanese proved more than a match for the home girl.

The Malaysian pair of Chan Pen Soon and Chung Hun blew up the Indian pair of K Dinesh and James Jayan in straight games of 21-8 and 21-15.

Earlier in the men's singles, Anand tried to make a comeback in the second set and won it 22-20 after having conceded the first set 18-21. But he gradually lost the shin and failed to repeat the feat in the tie breaker set.

The Indian stalwart went down without much of a fight 15-21 in the last and decider set to Malaysia's Chung Wei Pei.

UNI