Journalism of Courage
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This is an archive article published on December 8, 1999
Gopi, Meenakshi emerge champs
Hyderabad, Dec 7: National champion Pullela Gopi Chand signed off his international assignment for the millennium by clinching a hat-trick...
Written by Jayaram Sridhar
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Hyderabad, Dec 7: National champion Pullela Gopi Chand signed off his international assignment for the millennium by clinching a hat-trick of title wins, defeating Ajit Wijetilak (India) 15-6, 15-13 in the men’s singles final in the Servo Indian Oil Asian Satellite badminton tournament, which concluded at Lal Bahadur Indoor Stadium today.
Earlier, Gopi won the two IBF titles at Toulouse (France) and Edinburgh (Scotland) on the trot.
There was succour for 19-year-old BR Meenakshi, as she tamed Olympian PVV Lakshmi 7-11, 11-4, 13-10 in the women’s final. This is Meenakshi’s first international title.
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Lakshmi, after two years of lacklustre performances, won the mixed doubles and women’s doubles titles.
Though Wijetilak excelled both in deception and defence, Gopi Chand, with a packed home crowd backing him, utilised his power game diligently to win the first game 15-6.
Wijetilak began the second gallantly when he ran to a 8-4 lead. But Gopi bounced back to take a slender 11-10 lead. Wijetilak foughtgamely by breaking Gopi’s service regularly. Gopi, however, just waited for an opening and settled the issue in his favour by winning the second set 15-13.
BRAVE MEENAKSHI: After losing the first game 11-4, Menakshi galloped to a 7-1 lead, and won the second game 11-4. At 10-10 in the third, it was anybody’s game. Meenakshi, who exhibited fine temperament, played her natural game to emerge winner.
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Results (all finals)
Men singles: P Gopi Chand (India) bt Ajit Wijetilak (India) 15-6, 15-13. Men Doubles: Jaseel Ismail/Vincent Lobo (Ind) bt Rajeev Bagga/Vinod Kumar (Ind) 15-4, 17-15.
Women singles: B R Meenakshi (Ind) bt PVV Lakshmi (Ind) 7-11, 11-4, 13-11.
Women Doubles: PVV Lakshmi & Archana Deodhar (Ind) bt Ketki Thakkar & T Murgunde (Ind) 9-15, 15-3, 15-3.
Mixed doubles: PVV Lakshmi/JBS Vidyadhar (Ind) bt Meenakshi/Vinod Kumar (Ind) 17-14, 15-6.
