Indian paddler Sagarika Mukherjee came close to breaching the China wall before finishing as runners-up in the Junior Girls singles competition of the USD 8,000 Reliance India Junior and Cadet Open here today.
China's Yanmei Yang, keeping her reputation intact, beat the Indian 4-3 (11-6, 11-2, 11-4, 14-16, 9-11, 5-11, 12-10) in a thrilling final. Yang received the winner's purse of USD 1000, while Sagarika earned USD 500 for her effort.
In the Junior Boys category, India's Sudhanshu Grover defeated compatriot Abhishek Yadav 4-1 (11-2, 16-14, 12-10, 4-11, 11-7) in the summit clash at the NSCI Stadium to take home USD 1000.
While Grover upped his game, befitting the occasion, southpaw Yadav was not in his elements at all. That reflected in his game and Grover, on the other hand, never missed any opportunity that came his way. Attacking from both flanks, he kept Yadav engaged with short rallies and whenever opportunities presented he went for the kill.
Incidentally, Grover had won back-to-back titles, at the Central and West zone events, before coming to the event.
Riding on his form, he has already ensured that he claimed the title here and this should put him in a better frame of mind when he goes to Morocco in December for the World Juniors.
Grover is the only male Indian paddler who will represent the country in the singles event there.
Nobody gave a semblance of chance to Sagarika, particularly after the way she was down and out, trailing 0-3 and 2-4 in the fourth game. But a determined Sagarika surprised the entire crowd here by pushing the Chinese on her back foot.
Even those variations Yang employed in her serves failed to get her anywhere as Sagarika won the extended game 16-14 after some real fight and a few rallies.
