Mumbai lucky for me: Thulasi

Teenager stuns Sayali Gokhale to win second title in city

Kerala's PC Thulasi clinched the NSCI All -India Senior Ranking badminton title shocking former national champion Sayali Gokhale (24) of Air India in straight games 21-14, 21-14 at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Complex in Worli yesterday.


Thulasi P C from Kerala, who won the NSCI All India Senior Ranking
Tournament yesterday. PIC/Suresh KKu00a0

Thulasi, who won the Tata Open India International Badminton Challenge in Mumbaiu00a0-- her first ever women's singles title in December 2010, said the city has been lucky for her, "Mumbai has been lucky for me so far, as I have won back-to-back titles here. Winning the Tata Open title gave me confidence of competing at the senior level. I hope to play more matches here."

u00a0Thulasi, who dominated the match from the very beginning and didn't give Sayali any chance of bouncing back, said: "I was prepared for the match as I knew her game well, we have faced each other three times before but she has been lucky twice. Today, was my day. Sayali did not play her natural game and committed a lot of errors. This win will surely motivate me. I am looking forward to the upcoming tournaments. I will now play the super series in Chinese Taipei, China and Japan," said Thulasi, who is currently ranked 117 in the world.

Thulasi, who was also celebrating her 20th birthday yesterday, said: "When the schedules were out, my first aim was to qualify for the final as you rarely get a chance to play on your birthday."

u00a0In men's singles final, Sourabh Varma beat Sai Praneeth 19-21 25-23 21-11.

In mixed doubles final Akshay Dewalkar/Pradnya Gadre beat Pranav Chopra/Prajakta Sawant 21-17, 11-21,
22-20.