Srujan, Neha lift U-19 titles

Bangalore, Sep 8 (UNI) Second seed Srujan Nandaluri of Andhra Pradesh and Neha Pandit of Maharashtra lifted the title in the Under-19 men's and women's category respectively in the Fifth Union Bank of India All India Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament played at the Prakash Padukone Academy court here today.

Srujan beat qualifier Aditya Elango in straight sets 21-19, 21-12, avenging his brother Arun Nandaluri's defeat at the latter's hands in the semifinals yesterday.

However, Neha had to sweat it out to defeat her statemate and fourth seed Arundati Pantawane 21-19, 12-21, 21-19.

In the Doubles, top seed Air India pair Akshay Dewalkar and Jishnu Sanyal were trounced by Andhra Pradesh lads Guru Sai Dutt and K Tarun 21-18, 21-16 to lift the Boys Under 19 title.

Hosts Karnataka pair, top seeded Ashwini Ponnappa and Nitya Sosale lifted the Doubles title defeating their statemates G M Nischitha and V Ruth Misha 17-21, 21-18, 22-20.

Top seed Abhimanyu Singh of Madhya Pradesh lifted the U-16 title defeating fourth seed Arundati Pantawane of Maharashtra 21-18, 21-18.

Results: (All Finals) Boys:Singles: U-19 S2 Srujan Nandaluri (AP) bt Aditya Elango (TN) 21-19, 21-12.

Doubles: U-19 Guru Sai Dutt/ K Tarun (both AP) bt S1 Akshay Dewalkar/Jishnu Sanyal (both AI) 21-18, 21-16.

Singles: U-16 S1 Abhimanyu Singh (MP) bt S4 Aditya Prakash (Kar) 21-18, 21-18.

Girls: Singles U-19: S1 Neha Pandit (Mah) bt S4 Arundati Pantawane (Mah) 21-19, 12-21, 21-19.

Doubles: U-19 S1 Ashwini Ponnappa/Nitya Sosale bt G M Nischitha/V Ruth Misha (all Kar) 17-21, 21-18, 22-20.

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