Meenakshi, Gupta champs

Internationals B R Meenakshi and Abhinn Shyam Gupta (both from Petroleum Sports Control Board) justified their top billing by winning the women's and men's singles titles in the Rs 400,000 NSCI Senior ranking badminton tournament in Mumbai on Friday.

In the finals, Meenakshi rallied past her PSCB teammate and second seed Shruti Kurian 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 in 40 minutes while lanky Abhinn Shyam Gupta saved two game points in the second game, before stopping giant-killer Anup Sridhar of Karnataka 15-7, 17-16.

Gupta pocketed Rs 50,000 while Sridhar had to be content with Rs 27,000.

Meenakshi was richer by Rs 35,000 while runner-up Kurian took home Rs 18,000 for her efforts.

Photograph: Deepak Salvi