PUNE, Jan 6: The Western India Errectors WIE Sports Complex seems to be a happy hunting ground for the reigning national women’s champion, Manjusha Kanwar. Today, she snubbed off Larissa Sadarangani Air-India 11-8, 11-3 to bag the women’s title in the IVth All-India V V Natu Memorial badminton championships. Last year, Manjusha won the national crown at the same venue.

After a 35-minute break — which saw the men’s final between Abhinn Shyam Gupta Air-India and Sachin Ratti Railways — she returned to lift the women’s doubles for a grand double.

Teaming up with long time friend and doubles partner, Archana Deodhar of Maharashtra, she pushed aside the challenge of Larissa and Pooja Parikh Railways 15-5, 15-12 in an encounter lasting two minutes under the hour.

In the men’s final, No 3 Gupta defeated unseeded Ratti 15-12, 15-6. Surprisingly, the encounter lasted just five minutes more than the woman’s final.

In the woman’s final, No 3 Larissa began aggressively and had a 3-0 headstart, which solely was due to the unforced errors of her opponent, committed by hitting a high return toss long and netted a return trying to go for a dribble at the net.

Overcoming the initial blues, top-seeded Manjusha, came up with the occasional flash of brilliance particularly at the net.

Larissa looked all set to take the first game building up a 6-2 lead at mid-way stage. However, Manjusha’s net game proved the winner as a couple of dribbles won at the net had the No 1 seed claw her way back to level scores 6-6.

RESULTS

Men’s Singles: Abhinn Shyam Gupta A-I b Sachin Ratti Rlys 15-12, 15-6.Doubles: Vijaydeep Singh Pun amp; Jaseel Ismail Ker b Marcos Bristow amp; George Thomas Ker 15-1, 15-11.

Women’s Singles: Manjusha Kanwar Del b Larissa Sadarangani A-I 11-8, 11-3. Doubles: Manjusha Kanwar Del amp; Archana Deodhar Mah b Larissa Sadarangani A-I amp; Pooja Parikh Rlys 15-5, 15-12.

Mixed Doubles: B R Meenakshi amp; Harish Chander Rlys b Firoza Batliwala amp; Vikrant Patwardhan Mah 18-15, 6-15, 15-8.