Sikki-Aparna clinch doubles title

HYDERABAD: Seasoned campaigners Sikki Reddy and Aparna Balan of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) won the women's doubles title in the 37th Inter-Unit PSPB Badminton Championships at the Pullela Gopichand Academy here on Thursday.
The duo defeated Kuhoo Garg and Shikha Gautham of Oil and National Gas Corporation (ONGC) 21-11, 21-13 in the final.
In women's singles final, Rituparna Das of ONGC will square up against Ruthvika Shivani of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).Earlier in the semifinals Rituparna defeated Tanvi Lad of IOCL 24-22, 21-13 while Ruthvika made shortwork of PC Thulasi on ONGC.
All the top shuttlers - Sourabh Verma (ONGC), Aditya Joshi (BPCL), Sai Praneeth (BPCL) and RMV Gurusaidutt (BPCL) - made it to the last four stage in men's singles. While Sourabh trounced Daniel Farid of Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) 21-8, 21-8, Aditya fought back after losing the first game to beat Bodhit Joshi of HPCL 14-21, 21-14, 21-19. Gurusaidutt too faced tough competition from Anshal Yadav of HPCL. The experienced shuttler recovered after losing the first game to dominate Yadav in the next two 18-21, 21-14, 21-14.
Meanwhile, former national champion and renowned shuttler Chetan Anand featured in the doubles competition for ONGC. Chetan along with his partner Saurabh Sharma progressed into the men’s doubles with a convincing victory against A Anush and P Prabhat of HPCL 21-7, 21-6. The duo will now face their teammates Rupesh Kumar and Satvik Sai Raj in the final. Rupesh and Satvik eased past ASS Siril Verma and Ravindra Singh of GAIL 21-17, 21-15.
Results:
Men's singles (QFs): Sourabh Verma (ONGC) bt Daniel Farid (GAIL) 21-8, 21-8; Aditya Joshi (BPCL) bt Bodhit Joshi (HPCL) 14-21, 21-14, 21-19; Sai Praneeth (BPCL) bt Harsheel Dani (BPCL) 21-13, 21-13; RMV Gurusaidutt (BPCL) bt Anshal Yadav (HPCL) 18-21, 21-14, 21-14.
Men's doubles (SFs): Rupesh Kumar/Satvik Sai Raj (ONGC) bt ASS Siril Verma/Ravindra Singh (GAIL) 21-17, 21-15; Chetan Anand/Saurabh Sharma (ONGC) bt A Anush/P Prabhat (HPCL) 21-7, 21-6.
Women's singles (SFs): Rituparna Das (ONGC) bt Tanvi Lad (IOCL) 24-22, 21-13; Ruthvika Shivani (BPCL) bt PC Thulasi (ONGC) 21-18, 21-15.
Women's doubles (Finals): Aparna Balan/Sikki Reddy (IOCL) bt Kuhoo Garg/Shikha Gautham (ONGC) 21-11, 21-13.
Men's singles 45+ (SFs): G Raj Kumar (GAIL) bt Pradeep Paul (ONGC) 21-16, 21-15; Sandeep Dhillon (ONGC) bt Vimal Kumar (GAIL) 26-24, 21-11.
Doubles (SFs): Sandeep Dhillon/Pradeep Paul (ONGC) bt B Gurung/RK Deshmukh (HPCL) 21-11, 21-9; G Raj Kumar/Vimal Kumar (GAIL) bt RK Mishra/Venugopal (ONGC) 21-13, 21-14.