Scottish International: Anand Pawar romps into final

India’s Anand Pawar outsmarted Denmark’s world number 93 Rune Ulsing 21-13, 21-9 to reach the final of the Scottish International Badminton Championship.

The seventh seeded Indian was never looked in trouble against the Dane, winning the opening game in a facile fashion at 21-13.

The Indian, who climbed five spots in the latest world rankings to 55th position, further pressed on the accelerator, unsettling his opponent with potent smashes on both flanks as well as nifty play at the net. He closed out the second game at 21-9 in a contest that lasted 31 minutes.

The Mumbai boy will now play tenth seed and world number 73 Kazamusa Sakai of Japan in the final later today.

The two have never met before in any international tournament.

Earlier in the day, the Air India employee outduelled Denmark’s 137th ranked Flemming Quach 22-20, 21-15 in the semifinals. Pawar met with some resistance in the opening game, winning it at 22-20 before assuming control in the second game, pocketing it at 21-15 in a contest that lasted 35 minutes.