Fourth-seed Sourabh Varma beat third seed HS Prannoy to win the men's singles title of the $15,000 Tata Open India International Challenge badminton tournament at Cricket Club of India's badminton courts yesterday.
Varma’s net play and court coverage helped him overcome a higher ranked Prannoy 21-12, 21-17 in a 30-minute match. The title ensured that Varma, ranked World No 60, got 4000 world ranking points and the winner’s cheque of Rs 67,500. Meanwhile, Prannoy, ranked World No 49, had to be content with 3400 ranking points and Rs 34,200.
Sourabh Varma (left) poses with the winner’s cheque
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In the women’s singles final, Indonesian Ana Rovita stretched top seed Febby Angguni before she lost the marathon match that lasted an hour and 20 minutes 22-20, 14-21, 19-21.
In the first game, Varma took a comfortable 11-8 lead, that he widened to 16-9 before winning it 21-12. In the second game, 20-year-old Varma, who will celebrate his 21st birthday come December 30, hit some brilliant smashes to take control at 11-7. Prannoy did try to reduce the deficit at 13-18, but a few errors saw Varma winning the tile comfortably.
“I have won a title after one year and it will give me a lot of confidence for the senior nationals (in New Delhi starting next week),” said Varma after the win. “I was ranked 32 before I slipped and reached 50. I don’t know exactly how much it will improve my rankings, but I expect it to reach below 50,” he said.u00a0
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