30 January,2017 11:26 AM IST | | PTI
Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu and National champion Sameer Verma began the new season on a resounding note by winning the women's and men's singles crowns respectively at the Syed Modi Grand Prix
Lucknow: Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu and National champion Sameer Verma began the new season on a resounding note by winning the women's and men's singles crowns respectively at the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament here yesterday.
In fact, India scooped up three titles out of the five events in the tournament.
Top seed Sindhu, who has been in rampaging form last season, brushed aside Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska 21-13, 21-14 in the summit clash, while Sameer, who had reached the finals of Hong Kong Super Series, defeated compatriot B Sai Praneeth 21-19, 21-16 in the final.
Chopra-Reddy triumph too
Second seeds Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy, who had won Grand Prix titles at Brazil and Russia, also lay claim to their maiden GPG title in mixed doubles after beating compatriots Ashwini Ponnappa and B Sumeeth Reddy, seventh seeds, 22-20, 21-10 in the finals.
In the women's singles final, Sindhu didn't break a sweat as she took just 30 minutes to outplay Mariska for her maiden Syed Modi title. She had lost the finals to former World No. 1 Saina Nehwal in 2014 edition. "I am very happy to win this trophy as this is the first international tournament in 2017 for me. I am glad to start this year with victories - first the PBL and now this GPG. (Gregoria) Mariska is an upcoming player and she also played well," said Sindhu.
Sameer, on the other hand, fought back from 5-11 down in both the games to outwit fellow Indian Praneeth, who looked slightly in discomfort with his right shoulder
"My strategy was not working in the first game but I changed it after the break to move ahead. We know each other's game since we train together at Gopichand academy. He also had some issues with his shoulder. I am just happy I could win my first GPG title," Sameer said.
No glory for Ashwini
Reigning Olympic silver medallists and top seeds, Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen from Denmark knocked out India's newly formed pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy 21-16, 21-18 in a 38-minute final to clinch the women's doubles crown.
