New Delhi, August 19: The Indian pair of Soumyajit Ghosh and G. Sathiyan defeated compatriots Anothony Amal Raj and Sanil Shetty to entern the men doubles final of the Seamaster 2017 World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open at Panagyurishte today.
The Ghosh-Sathiyan duo defeated Amalraj and Shetty in straight games of 11-3, 12-10, 11-8. The two will now take on the top-seeded Japanese duo of Jin Uda and Maharu Yoshimura in the final on Sunday. The Japanese had a tough time against Hungarians Nandor Ecseki and AdamSzudi before winning their semi-final match 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6.
In contrast, both Ghosh and Sathiyan faced a tough encounter against Taipei’s Lin un Ju and Yang Heng-Wei in the quarterfinals which the Indians won 3-2. However, Amalraj and Shetty had an easy quarterfinal outing against Tedor Alexandrov and Denislav Kodjabashev of the host country. But when it came to facing Ghosh and Sathiyan, except for the second game where they were extended, Amalraj and Shetty failed to press home the advantage in the semfiinal.
Earlier, Manika Batra and Mouna Das lost to their opponents Matilda Ekholm and Georgina Pota, a Sweden-Hungary combine, 4-11, 11-8, 12-14, 12-14 in tough women doubles semifinal match.
Manav Thakkar, too, had to satisfy himself with the bronze after losing his under-21 men singles semifinal match to Tomas Polansky of Czech Republic 8-11, 6-11, 11-5, 8-11.
Brief Results:
Men Doubles: (Semifinals): Soumyajit Ghosh-G. Sathiyan bt Anthony Amalraj-Sanil Shetty 11-3, 12-10, 11-8; Quarterfinals: Anthony Amalraj-Sanil Shetty bt Tedor Alexandrov–Denislav Kodjabashev (BUL) 11-8, 11-9, 11-4; Soumyajit Ghosh-G. Sathiyan bt Lin Yun-Ju-Yang Heng-Wei (TPE) 5-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7.