Bangalore, Nov 15: National champion P Gopi Chand defeated Richard Vaughan of Wales 15-13, 14-15, 15-5 to win the men's singles final of the $ 17,000 Tolouse Open badminton championships.The match between Gopi Chand and Vaughan played yesterday was a tense affair. Vaughan got off to a great start and led 8-1 in the first game. However, Gopi Chand fought back, and levelled the score at 8-8. The India number one then took control of the net and with precise smashes won the first game at 15-13, says a BAI release here.In the second game, Gopi Chand started strongly and built up a lead of 6-1. However, at this stage, Vaughan staged a good recovery. He caught Gopi Chand off guard several times with his smashes on the backhand side and in the forecourt. Gopi Chand then tightened his game and got to 14-11. But Vaughan did not give up though Gopi Chand served several times for the second game and the match. Vaughan finally took the second game at 15-14.In the third game, Gopi Chand took control early andromped home 15-5.Earlier, Vaughan got the better of Nikhil Kanetkar in the semi-finals in an exciting encounter 15-13, 15-13 while Gopi Chand got the better of Henrik Bengtsson of Sweden in the other semi-finals 15-10, 15-2.
