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ShareGUWAHATI: National champion Sayali Gokhale of Air India held off a strong challenge from fellow-Puneite and Padukone Academy teammate Aditi Mutatkar of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) in the semifinals of the inter-zonal badminton championships for the Chadha Cup. However, Sayali could not prevent PSPB from entering the final, as PSPB won the other two matches – Shruti Kurien/ Aparna Balan beat Jyotsna/ Sayali Gokhale, before Trupti Murgunde thrashed Mudra Dhainje.
Earlier PSPB had beaten Maharashtra in the quarterfinals. Trupti Murgunde of PSPB lost a tight first set to Neha Pandit, but had no problems in the second and third as she made it 1-0 for her team. Senior internationals Shruti Kurien/Aparna Balan held off juniors Arundhati Pantwane/ Prajakta Sawant 21-15 22-20 to send PSPB into the semifinal.
In the final of the women’s inter-zone team event, PSPB will play Andhra Pradesh, who overcame Delhi and then Assam.
In the Rahimtoola Cup for men, PSPB eased past Maharashtra (3-0) in the quarters and Delhi (3-0) in the semis. They will play Air India in the final. In the quarterfinals, Sagar Chopda of Maharashtra stretched national champion Arvind Bhat before falling 21-17 18-21 21-18, but Anup Sridhar had no trouble disposing off Nikhil Kanetkar 21-13 21-14, before V Diju/Chetan Anand whipped Prasad Shetty/Aditya Pandya 21-6 21-8.
