Sameer defeats elder bro Sourabh to clinch national title

CHANDIGARH, Apr 10:
In a clash between Varma brothers, it was young Sameer who had the last laugh as he clinched his maiden senior nationals badminton title with a straight-game win over Sourabh in the final, here today.
In the much-anticipated men’s singles clash, Sameer defeated 2012 champion Sourabh 21-16 21-16 in 26-minutes to record his third win over his elder sibling.
The 21-year-old had beaten unseeded Sourabh at the TATA Open and Bangladesh Open — in the international circuit last December.
Both the trainees at chief national coach Pullela Gopichand’s Academy in Hyderabad, share a good bond off the court and Sameer said he would have been equally happy for Sourabh if he had won.
“We share a good bond. Everytime we win or lose a match we discuss what we did wrong or right. We also discuss and analyse the players game together,” Sameer told PTI.
“Today it was a good match, I was lagging behind in both the games at some point but I am happy I didn’t crumble under pressure and happy to win today. I will go home tomorrow and spend some time with my parents. The next tournaments will start from May,” he said.
In the final clash, Sourabh had opened up a 4-0 lead early on but Sameer recovered well to take interval at 11-5. Sourabh then narrowed it down with four straight points but Sameer ensured he had his nose ahead to eventually earn the bragging rights.
In the second game, it was a neck-and-neck battle till 8-8 before Sourabh again marched ahead, reaching 11-8 at the break. But Sameer clawed back at 13-13 and then broke off from 14-14 with a six-point burst and sealed the issue comfortably in the end.
“I guess I have a psychological advantage over him since I have beaten him twice and that experience helped me today,” Sameer said.
Among others, second seed P C Thulasi emerged victories over top seed Tanvi Lad 21-9 21-13 in a 41-minute match to clinch the women’s singles title.
In the mixed doubles, top seed Arun Vishnu and Aparna Balan saw off third seed Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Sikki Reddy N 22-20 22-20 in a hard-fought battle that lasted 54 minutes.
In women’s doubles, top seeds Pradnya Gadre and Sikki Reddy N defeated second seeds Aparna Balan and Prajakta Sawant 22-20 21-18, while top seeded men’s doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar clinched the title after their opponents Alwin Francis and Tarun K retired in the fag end of the opening game after 19 minutes. (PTI)

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