Hosts India were assured of the world title in Men’s Doubles 35 category after former national champions Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas set up a summit clash against compatriots V Diju and JBS Vidyadhar in Kochi on Saturday.
Thomas and Kumar hammered the Japanese combination of Hosemari Fujimoto and Matsumoto Masayuki 21-12, 21-9 while Vidyadhar and Diju got the better of Naruenart Chuaymak and Thitipong Lapoe of Thailand 21-15, 21-9 in the semi-finals.
The experienced Srikant Bakshi and Navdeep Singh will carry the Indian hope in the summit clash of Men’s doubles 45 category after they defeated Sweden’s Stefan Edvardsson and Ulf Svensson 21-15 21-19. They will now face second seed Chatchai Boonmee and Wittaya Panomchai of Thailand.
Local hope K Aneesh (MS 40) and Basant Kumar Soni (MS 55) will be the other Indian contenders for the title. Aneesh upset compatriot and second seed Joy T Anthony 21-16 21-15 in the semi-finals and will face Japan’s Hosemari Fujimoto.
Unseeded Soni got the better of second seed Loke Poh Wong 21-16 21-16 in MS 55 category semi-final and will meet Thailand’s Pornroj Banditpisut.
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