Chetan Anand and Saina Nehwal won the men and women's singles titles, respectively, in the Jaypee Cup Syed Modi International Grand Prix Badminton Tournament at the UPBA Academy on Sunday.
Chetan dropped one game against fifth-seed Indonesian Dyonisius Hayom Rumbaka before wresting the tie 21-17, 19-21, 21-16. Chetan, despite trailing 0-4 in the first game, raced back to level the score at eight points before being locked again at 14 and 17. Thereafter, however, he picked up four points at a stretch to wrap up the game. The second game unfolded in a different way with Dyonisius dominating the proceedings with his calculated drops to take a comfortable seven points lead at 16-9.
Though Chetan fought back to level the score at 19, Dyonisius's consecutive cross-court hits left him stranded, watching the game slip away.
The decider, as expected, was fought vigorously, but the Indian held his nerves to emerge a winner. After being tied at 16 points, Chetan pulled away to seal the game 21-16.
For Saina, on the other hand, it turned out a cakewalk as she registered a 21-17, 21-13 win over fourth-seed Aditi Mutatkar. Saina though said it was a well-fought final, her rival, however, never looked in contention. Most of the points she earned in the first game were actually a result of the unforced errors by the champion, making it look more competitive than it actually was.
For Saina, on the other hand, it turned out a cakewalk as she registered a 21-17, 21-13 win over fourth-seed Aditi Mutatkar. Saina though said it was a well-fought final, her rival, however, never looked in contention. Most of the points she earned in the first game were actually a result of the unforced errors by the champion, making it look more competitive than it actually was.