Shuttler Ajay Jayaram clinches Dutch Open, bags maiden Grand Prix

ALMERE: Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram today notched up the biggest triumph of his career by clinching USD 50,000 Yonex Dutch Open Grand Prix badminton tournament here on Monday.
The 27-year-old Bangalore-based player defeated Indonesia’s Ihsan Maulana Mustofa 10-11 11-6 11-7 1-11 11-9 in the men’s singles final which lasted 46 minutes to bag his maiden Grand Prix title at the Topsportcentrum Almere.
Jayaram started off on the wrong note, losing the first game. But he came back to win the next two before Mustofa staged a strong fightback to claim the fourth game. However, it was Jayaram who had the last laugh as he went on to win the deciding game and clinch the title.
The 13th seeded Indian returned to the circuit in August after a seven-month injury layoff.
Jayaram had beaten top seed Rajiv Ouseph of England 11-8 11-7 11-5 in a 26-minute semi-final to enter title round.
Jayaram got past Chun Hei Tam of Hong Kong in the pre-quarterfinals and third-seeded Indonesian Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka in the quarter-finals.
Coach Vimal Kumar said it was a creditable performance from Jayaram and good for Indian badminton.
“Jayaram has had injuries in recent times. Despite that, he has won a Grand Prix title. It’s his career-best performance and I congratulate him,” Vimal told.
“This is good for Indian badminton as the country has now got some players who can win tournament of Grand Prix level and above. I had always thought that Jayaram has got the capability to win this kind of tournaments,” he said.
Vimal informed that the BWF has tried out a new scoring system of 11-point games in the Grand Prix level and will have a review next month. (PTI)