Abhinn, Popat storm into Satellite men's final

MUMBAI: Abhin Shyam Gupta and Aparna Popat, the top seeds in the men’s and women’s singles sections of the US$ 5000 BPL Asian Satellite badminton championships, were in a class of their own at the Bombay Gymkhana on Saturday. They were cool, crafty and, conclusively, convincing as they stayed firmly on course for top honours when waltzing into the title round of their respective categories.
Gupta shrugged off a skittish start and then went on to counter the early aggro of his third seeded compatriot Nikhil Kanetkar before wearing him down to triumph in straight games 17-14, 15-8.Earlier, Popat proved a trifle too accomplished for BR Meenakshi to win 11-8, 11-1 and canter into the women’s final.
In the final, Gupta will take on fourth seed Jarkrapan Thanathiratham of Thailand, who came back in style to get the better of Malaysias Lee Chong Wei 8-15, 15-4, 15-4, while Aparna will lock horns with Thailand’s Salakjit Polsana, who brushed aside the challenge of Malaysias Lee Yin Yin, winning 11-6, 11-3.
Abhinn Shyam Gupta was off to a rather shaky start. He looked all at sea as Kanetkar rode into the match on an aggressive note.
He had absolutely no counter to the fast pace and the power-packed smashes his opponent threw at him and, in a trice, he was down 0-6. But he gradually gathered himself and began gaining control as he engaged Kanetkar in long rallies.
Results: Mens singles (semi-finals): 1-Abhin Shyam Gupta(India) beat 3-Nikhil Kanetkar (India) 17-14, 15-8; Jarkrapan Thanathiratham (Thailand) beat Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia) 8-15, 15-4, 15-4. (Quarter-finals): Abhinn Shyam Gupta (India) beat Thomas Kurien (India) 15-6, 15-7; Nikhil Kanetkar (India) beat Sanave Thomas (India) 15-3, 7-3 (conceded); Jakrapan Thanathiratham (Thailand) beat Aamir Ghaffer (England) 15-9, 15-9; Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia) beat C Anand (India) 13-15, 15-10, 15-10.
Ladies singles (semi-finals): 1-Aparna Popat (India) beat B R Meenakshi (India) 11-8, 11-1; Salakjit Polsana (Thailand) beat Lee Yin Yin (Malaysia) 11-1, 11-7. (quarter-finals): Aparna Popat (India) beat Saratja Chansrisukot (Thailand) 11-2, 11-7; B.R. Meenakshi (India) beat Woon Sze Mei (Malaysia) 13-12, 13-11; Lee Yin Yin (Malaysia) beat Trupti Murgunde (India) 11-6, 11-3; Salakjit Polsana (Thailand) beat Manjusha Kanwar (India) 11-5, 11-2.