Sourabh, Sindhu cruise into semifinals

Sourabh Verma

Bangalore: Top seed Sourabh Verma was in menacing form as he progressed without a hitch into the semifinals of the 76^th Senior National Badminton Championships on Monday. Verma, who hasn’t dropped a game in four matches, eased past 15^th seed Akshit Mahajan 21-19 21-15 to book his semifinal place against HS Prannoy.

The other semifinal will see Anand Pawar in action against Sai Praneeth. Pawar came from behind to ambush fellow-international Guru Sai Dutt, while Sai Praneeth had to fend off a fierce challenge from youngster K Srikanth in the first game before prevailing easily in the second.

The women’s singles semifinals will see favourite PV Sindhu against reigning champ Aditi Mutatkar, while former champion Sayali Gokhale takes on fellow-Puneiite Neha Pandit.

With most of the men’s singles quarterfinals featuring products of the Gopichand Academy, the evening session presented an opportunity to watch a clutch of players with identical styles. Sourabh Verma, Guru Sai Dutt, Sai Praneeth, K Nandagopal, K Srikanth and HS Prannoy play a style set by Gopi – a fast, attacking game, full of jump smashes, fierce drives and rapid advances to the net. The Gopi school of thought has produced numerous players who’ve proven their mettle at national and international levels. The best example is Saina, of course, and in the men’s singles a generation of juniors is waiting to take wing.

Anand Pawar’s quarterfinal against Guru Sai therefore provided a study of contrasts. Anand, who has been based in Denmark for the last three years, has doubtless picked a few things from the Europeans. He surprised everybody by demolishing Arvind Bhat in the morning, but against Guru Sai he played the wrong kind of game and was smothered in the first set. Guru revels in the flat game, and Pawar played into his hands.

Things turned around after he displayed more patience in the second game, working the points well and getting past Guru with surprising ease.

With Prannoy – another classic Gopi product – taking on Sourabh Verma, the semifinals will be a day to savour. “Sourabh’s very tough and consistent,” said Prannoy. “He doesn’t hit very hard, but he can stay in the rallies for long. He’s got a good defence, so you’ve got to hit through it if you want to win.”

Prannoy, a former World Junior semifinalist and Youth Olympic silver medallist, is an intelligent and articulate sort. What unfolds on Tuesday will be interesting.

Semifinals: Men’s Singles: 1-Sourabh Verma vs 4-HS Prannoy; Anand Pawar vs 2-Sai Praneeth

Women’s Singles: 9-PV Sindhu vs 4-Aditi Mutatkar; 3-Sayali Gokhale vs 2-Neha Pandit