Verma brothers Sourabh and Sameer, hailing from Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, today ensured at least one singles title for the host nation in the USD 15,000 Tata Open Indian International Badminton Challenge by entering the men's final at the Cricket Club of India here.
The two brothers, both in their early twenties and trainees at national coach P Gopichand's Academy in Hyderabad, vanquished Malaysian opponents in the semi finals to reach tomorrow's final.
Third seed Sameer, at 21 one year younger to Sourabh and a losing finalist in the last senior nationals, was the first to make the grade.
Sameer, the highest ranked player in the men's draw from the beginning following the late withdrawal of the top two seeds, was too good for his left-handed Malaysian rival Joo Ven Soong from the start.
He led 21-11 15-9 in what appeared to be a one-sided clash, outclassing his rival with telling jump smashes, when his Malaysian opponent twisted his left ankle and retired.
Later, 2011 national champion Sourabh, not seeded in this tournament in which he had won the singles title two years ago, was equally dominating when he showed another Malaysian shuttler, eighth seed Lim Chi Wing, the door with a 21-16 21-13 win in 37 minutes.
They were the only Indian players left in the fray in singles after the elimination of women's third seed Saili Rane who was beaten 21-14 18-21 21-12 in just over an hour by her much taller opponent, second-seeded Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand, in the semi final.
Pornpawee is to meet top seeded Malaysian and world no.37, Jint Ti Yee, in tomorrow's final.
There was good cheer for India in mixed doubles when
the unheralded pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and K Maneesha, also from the Gopichand Academy, stunned top seeds Yong Kai Terry Hee and We Han Tan of Singapore 19-21 21-14 21-18 in the semi final.
Satwik and Maneesha will meet the second seeded Indian pair of Arun Vishnu and Aparna Balan, who trounced compatriots Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy 21-16 21-14 in the other semi final, in the final tomorrow.
The results (all semi finals):
Men's singles: 3-Sameer Verma (Ind) bt 5-Joo Ven Song (Mas) 21-11 15-9 (retd.)
Women's singles: 1-Jing Yi Tee (Mas) bt 6-Yen Mei Ho (Mas) 19-21 21-19 21-17; 2-Pornpawee Chochuwang (Tha) bt 3-Saili Rane (Ind) 21-14 18-21 21-12.
Mixed doubles: 2-Arun Vishnu/Aparna Balan (Ind) bt Pranaav Jerry Chopra/N Sikki Reddy (Ind) 21-16 21-14; Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/K Maneesha (Ind) bt 1-Yong Kai Terry Hee/Wei Han Tan (Sin) 19-21 21-14 21-18.
Women's doubles: 1-Chaladchalam Chayanit/Phataimas Muenwong (Tha) bt 4-Aparna Balan/Prajakta Sawant (Ind) 21-11 21-15.
(REOPENS SPB 4)
Following are the additional results:
Women's doubles: K Maneesha/N Sikki Reddy (Ind) bt Shinta Mulia Sari/Wei Hai Tan (Sin) 21-19 18-21 21-19.
Men's doubles: 3-Wannawat Ampunsuwan/Tinn Isriyanate (Tha) bt Jishnu Sanyal/Shivam Sharma (Ind) 21-19 21-7; 2-Pranaav Jerry Chopra/Akshay Dewalkar (Ind) bt Krishna Prasad Garaga/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (Ind) 21-17 21-18.
