Dubai: Olympian Anup Sridhar rode on his years of experience to emerge as the super league men’s singles champion of the India Club 38th UAE Open Badminton tournament. Cheered by over 400 spectators, Shridhar defeated Dea Adi Rangga 21-17, 21-12 in the final of the Super League category to pocket the cash prize of Dh3500.
Sridhar, an Arjuna awardee, India’s major award for sporting excellence, in 2008 and a quarter-finalist at the World Championship in 2007 and bronze medallist in Commonwealth Games in 2006 dominated the contest. Runner-up Rangaa, who works as coach at the Professional Sports Badminton Academy in Dubai had to be content with cash prize of Dh2500. Rangaa was unlucky to miss three titles, also losing in the final of UAE open men’s singles and doubles.
Imam Adi Kusuma Admaja won the third place while fourth place went to Mohammad Hafiz Bin Hashim in the super league.
In the UAE Open men’s singles, Dubai-based Kusuma Admaja defeated Rangga in a keenly fought battle 21-23, 24-22, 24-22.
The super league men’s doubles final saw Kerala’s Mohammad Munawar and India’s national doubles star Nandagopal Kidambi defeat Nur Izzuddin Bin Mohammad Rumsani and Zairul Hafiz Bin Zainudin 21-18, 21-19. The men’s doubles in UAE open category was won by Ketan Chahal and Alex Eapen who defeated Rangga and Kornelius Mujiono 21-17, 9-21, 21-16.
The mixed doubles final was also keenly fought with Avinash Kumar and Haritha M. Harinarayanan getting the better of Kornelius Mujiono and Meeta Bhandari 22-20, 8-21, 21-15. Incidentally, Haritha also won the ladies singles final defeating Amritha Kuttikrishnan 21-19, 21-9. Haritha is a Kerala state champion in ladies’ doubles and winner last year and had won the all India University Championship title for 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 representing MG University. Haritha also won the ladies doubles with Teena Mary Cherian defeating Saima Waqas / Palwasha Bashir 21-19, 21-12.
Global Hawk Imaging & Diagnostics LLC was the main sponsor of the tournament where over 40 matches were played daily for 26 days and 712 players contested in the 26 categories.
