Fairytale Finish For Sourabh Verma In Hyderabad Open

Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy come up short in women’s doubles final

- V.V. Subrahmanyam

India’s wait for a men’s singles title in a major international event in 2019 ended with Sourabh Verma clinching the honours in the Hyderabad Open badminton championship, even as the premier women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy faltered in the final, at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Sourabh defeated Loh Kean Yew of Singapore 21-13, 14-21, 21-16 in the summit clash that lasted 52 minutes.

Good start

The Indian looked in ominous touch in the first game when he made light of the opponent in just 15 minutes with an array of impressive big smashes, cross-court drops and splendid net game.