Giant-killer Sourabh Varma played his heart out but had to be content with a runner-up finish at the Syed Modi Memorial India Open Grand Prix Gold as he lost the fiercely-fought final to former World and Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat, here on Sunday.

The unseeded Indian was locked in an intense battle with the second seed Hidayat till the end of the men's singles summit clash, which he lost 15-21 18-21 in 46 minutes.