Six Andhra shuttlers in finals of Sub-Junior National Tourney

Dehradun, Oct 15 (UNI) Six Andhra Pradesh shutlers have sailed into the finals of 21st Sub-Junior National Badminton Championship-2007 here today, making it an all Andhra affairs.

PV Sindhu and Manisha will play each other in the final of Girls under-13 catagory, Rohit Yadav and B Sriram would meet in the final of Boys under -13 catagory and N Sikri Reddy and B Sai Praneeth has made their ways into finals in Girls under-16 and Boys Under-16 catagory respectively in the matches played here today.

Top seed Sindhu defeated fourth seeded Sara Naqwi of Uttar Pradesh in a closely contested first semi final match.

Both the players displaying fine smashes and placing headed ahead taking alternative points. However Naqvi managed to clinch the first set 21-19. Making a come back in the second set Sindhu moved ahead of Naqvi after they were locked in 7-7 points. Sindhu maintaining her lead there after and not giving much opportunity to her rival won the set 21-14.

The third and final set was again fought neck to neck by the two players. However this time first seed proved her mettle by scoring twice after they were locked in 19 all, to clinch the set 19-21.

Sindhu will face her state mate Manisha in the final tomorrow.

In the second semifinal, second seed Mansiha did not have to perspire much to beat 3rd seed Anjali Rawat of Gujarat in straight sets. She dominated the match from the begining itself and waltzed pass the rival 21-16, 21-17.

In the Boys under-13 catagory Andhra Pradesh shutler Rohit Yadav, the top seed, proved too good for unseed Arshalam Naqvi of Uttar Pradesh as he thrashed the later in a straight set of 21-11, 21-3 in the first semi final match.

In the second semi final between AP shutlers Santosh Ravuri and B Sriram, the later unseed player posed a tough time for 3rd seed Ravuri by extending the match to three set afair.

Sriram won the first set 19-21. However, he could not maintain his tempo and lost the second set after giving a tough fight by 21-23. In the third and final set, much experienced Ravuri keeping his cool and making his rival run to the base line and the net prevailed over him to take the set 21-14 and cruise into the final to meet his statemate Yadav in the finals of Under-13 catagory of the Championship.

Meanwhile, the day was rocked by the protest against over age of eight shutlers, two each from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Mizoram and Goa who have to undergo medical test in Doon Hospital to prove their age right for the championship. Organising Secretary of Uttarakhand Badminton Association said that owing to complaints recieved by the organising committee all the eight players were medically tested for ascertaining their age.

He said that the lab result would be provided by the Hospital on October 18. Till then the matches would continue. However the finals of the Championship would be played on October 16 as per the schedule.

Other Results: Boys Under-16 singles semi finals: 1st) B Sai Praneeth (AP) beat Sarang Lakhani (MAH) 21-14, 21-14.

2nd) Sameer Verma (MP) beat Hirek Jyoti Neog (ASM) 21-13, 21-19.

Girls U-16 Single Semi finals: 1st) N Siki Reddy (AP) beat Saili Rane (MAH) 21-17, 21-6.

2nd) Prajakta Sawant (MAH) beat Tanvi Lad (MAH) 21-18, 21-10.

UNI