India on course for final birth

India on course for final birth
R Ramachandran

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 18: At last, the Indian men now get a chance to repeat what Prakash Padukone and the rest did 12 years ago. Keeping themselves in course for a place in the finals at Kuala Lumpur in May, they beat Singapore 5-0 to enter the semi-finals of the BPL-Asian qualifiers for the Thomas/Uber Cup Badminton Championships at the IG Stadium on Friday.

In the first semi-finals Saturday, the Indians take on top-seed Chinese, and Group Y winner Korea meet Thailand in the second semis later in the day.

Earlier, Indian women tasted victory against Hong Kong, 4-1 in the second stage of the Uber Cup event to redeem themselves. In other Uber Cup ties, both Korea and Japan made the grade from Group Y in that order, while Indonesia and Hong Kong qualified from Group X.

India had to win their game against Singapore to keep their chances afloat. Pullela Gopi Chand, with his toss and dribble game, shut out Yen Hui Kendrick Lee 15-12, 15-6 in 30 minutes, despite the Singaporean putting up some resistance in the first game. The Indian pair of Vincent Lobo and Jaseel P Ismail gave India 2-0 lead, their win against Kim Pong Patrick Lau/Aman Santosa taking as much time as Gopi had done.

Nikhil Kanetkar found an easy meat in Choun Long Kenny as the No 2 Indian scored a 15-2, 15-3 win with a clinical finish.

With a winning lead, the second doubles team of Markose Bristow and Vijaydeep Singh played a relaxed game to take the fourth match. Sidharth Jain, playing for the first time in the championship, completed the formalities in the third singles in less than 30 minutes.

India are likely to rest Gopi for Saturday's game against China, the tie is likely to go against them. Similarly, the Chinese coach failed to come out with a clear-cut answer whether world champion Sun Jun will be played against India. The top Chinese shuttler is nursing an ankle injury and China, even without his services, can prove quite handful for the Indians.

Aparna Popat, recovering from a mild fever, was in total control of her game against Mei Mei Chan 11-6 11-6. Similarly, BR Meenakshi also had an easy match gainst Ching Ng 11-4 11-2.

With India 2-0 up, the left-right combination of Jwala Gutta and Shruti S Kurian took over from where their seniors left off. Pairing together for the second time, the Indians held the upper hand over their rivals as they combined both at net-play and dribble against Wai Chee Koon/ Wing Mui Li to win 15-11 15-12.

Manjusha Kanwar won her singles without any sweat but the second Indian pair of Madhumita Bisht and PVV Lakshmi lost to Chan and Ching.

Results
Thomas Cup (Group Y): India bt Singapore 5-0 (P Gopi Chand bt Kendrick Hui 15-12, 15-6, Vincent Lobo/Jaseel Ismail bt Patrick Pong/Aman Santosa 15-7, 15-6; Nikhil Kanetkar bt Chuong Leong Kenny 15-2, 15-3; Markose Bristow/Vijaydeep Singh beat Faris Marwadi/Kan Teck Khoo 15-1, 15-8; Siddharth Jain beat Gerald Hee Tek 15-2, 15-2
Uber Cup (Group X): India bt Hong Kong 4-1 (Aparna Popat bt Mei Mei Chan 11-6, 11-6; BR Meenakshi bt NG Ching 11-4, 11-2; Jwala Gutta/Shruti Kurien bt Chee Wai Koon/Li Wing Man 15-11, 15-12; Manjusha Kanwar bt Ching Man Siu 11-3, 11-1; PVV Lakshmi/Madhumita Bisht lost to Chan Mei Mei/Ching NG 9-15, 8-15).
Semi-final line-up: Thomas Cup: China vs India 11 am; Korea vs Thailand 3 pm
Uber Cup: Korea vs Indonesia 115).