New Delhi: Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas put themselves

05/10/09

Sporty India Updated

New Delhi: Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas put themselves in contention for a second men’s doubles title this year after defeating Austrians Juergen Koch and Peter Zauner in straight games to enter the final of Birburger Open badminton tournament in Germany.

The top-seeded Indian duo beat the fifth-seeded Austrians 21-17, 21-18 in a 38-minute contest on Saturday to set up a clash with the seventh-seeded English duo of Chris Adcock and Andrew Ellis.
Adcock and Ellis defeated the sixth-seeded Danish combination of Rasmus Bonde and Mikkel Delbo Larsen 21-17, 21-17.

Meanwhile, India’s campaign ended in the men’s singles with 11th seed Anand Pawar putting up a gallant fight before running out of steam against fifth seed Eric Pang 10-21, 21-16, 6-21 in a 41-minute clash in the quarterfinals.