PSA, India Club take lead in shuttle championship

Dubai - Friday Smashers B, Shuttle Shooters register easy victories

Unbeaten Pro Sports Academy (PSA) and India Club emerged favourites in groups A and B after registering victories in round two of the Shuttle Time Dubai Club Championships at Dubai Sports World's six-court hover covered facility at the Dubai World Trade Centre, on Friday night.
PSA are on top in Group A after their second straight win while Team Victor lie second. India Club and Shuttle Shooters enjoy Group B leadership with four points apiece after their impressive second round show.
PSA gained a winning 3-0 lead before Team Victor clinched two points in the juniors doubles and master doubles.
The team tournament, the first time an organised inter club championships is being held here with a proper registration process, sees sides clashing over a five-match format. The doubles and singles fixtures are based on five sets, 11 points a set. There will be three more weekends only matches with the summit rounds scheduled for the last Friday of August.
A pioneering badminton outfit in the UAE, India Club, downed spirited Friday Smashers A 4-1 in Group B. In the other matches on Friday, Friday Smashers B downed Shuttle Hawks 4-1 in Group A and Shuttle Shooters were on target against Jpark Shuttlers, winning 4-1 in another Group B clash.
In the single group second tier of the championships, Arab Badminton Club, made up of former Jordanian, and Syrian national players, beat Bdmintontown 3-2. In the same classification, Badeemonz who have an appreciative number of upcoming Filipino players, whitewashed Captain Badminton Club 5-0.
Badeemonz's manager-cum-player Art Dalisay, said: "There are so many Filipinos taking up to the game in Dubai and in Abu Dhabi. Badminton is becoming the second most popular sport after basketball in our community. It's a great way to keep fit for any age. This is our second win in the single group second tier championship, and we are looking forward to entering the final."
Team Victor had Bahrain national junior players - the Ehsan brothers Adnan and Eliyas - serving them well along with captain and coach Alex Tharakan. PSA with their Indonesian coaches Dea Adi Rangga, Kornelius Mujiono and Andreas Yourawan proved too good in the men's singles and early doubles matches.
"The loss is a setback but the Indonesians who have international experience proved too much in the beginning but our chances of entering the semifinals are still bright," said Tharakan.
James Varghese, India Club player and a certified coach, said: "The format is something new for players here who now have a platform to compete seriously in a team event where most of the leading badminton academies and centres are taking part."
moni@khaleejtimes.com