Promising Nikhil Kanetkar lost to Irwansyah of Wales in the final of the Welsh International badminton championships in Cardiff on Sunday.

Irwansyah, an Indonesian settled in Wales, successfully defended his crown, defeating the Indian southpaw 15-6, 15-11.

Before the final, the pair were honours, with Irwan beating the Indian in the final of last year's Scottish International, and Kanetkar beating the Welshman in a German Bundesliga match.

Irwan, 28, stepped out on court with heavy strapping to his right leg after picking up a hamstring strain last week, but it did not appear to hinder his movement on court as he subjected the slight Indian to a tirade of smashes and net rushes to take the first game 15-6.

Guided by German national coach Asger Madsen, Kanetkar started the second game with more answers and managed to stave off some of Irwan's more powerful attacks. The match was poised at 10-8 and looking as though it would go into a deciding third game until the Indonesian-born Welshman pulled back four consecutive points from his next serve, and allowed Kanetkar just one more point before wrapping up the second game 15-11, dropping to his knees in celebration at winning his home title for the second year in a row.

"I am very happy to win here -- Wales is my home now so to win here two times is very special," said Irwan afterwards.

In the semi-finals, Nikhil had beaten Andrew Smith of England 4-15, 15-1, 15-6, while in the quarters, he beat George Rimarcdi (Sweden) 9-15, 15-6, 15-9.

In the pre-quarter-finals, he whipped Roman Spitko of Germany 15-3, 15-5 while in the first round he fired out Toby Honey of England 15-10, 15-13.

Nikhil, who has been playing in the Bundesleague in Germany for the last three months, would this week play in the BMW Open in Duisburg. He will then return to India to compete in the domestic circuit, beginning with the Syed Modi memorial tournament in Lucknow and the Rs 400,000 prize-money event in Jamshedpur.

Matthew Hughes and Jo Muggeridge failed to make it a double celebration in the Welsh camp, outclassed by defending champions Nikolai Zuev and Marina Yakusheva at the final hurdle.

The second seeded Russian pair started off at a fast pace, which Hughes and Muggeridge simply could not match. Frustration was etched on Hughes' face as he cursed himself for the unforced errors he was committing.

Zuev and Yakusheva won the first game 11-4 and looked equally confident at the start of the second game. The Welsh pair trailed the entire game, with the Russians making light work of even the sharpest of Hughes smashes -- final score 11-4, 11-6 to the title holders.

"The Russians are a well-established pair and have won many titles in the past - there's no embarrassment in losing to a better pair," said Muggeridge afterwards.

"It's the first time Matthew has played in the finals of his home international, and it's only the fourth tournament we've played in together, so on the whole, we're pretty pleased with our result today."

The all-English women's doubles final was won by reigning champion Ella Tripp, playing with Joanne Wright against 2001 runners-up Liza Parker and Suzanne Rayappan 11-7, 13-11, but only one title went England's way on finals day, as Peter Jeffrey and Julian Robertson missed out on gold in the men's doubles against Nikolai Zuev and Stanislav Pukhov.

The world number 11 Russian pair beat the experienced English duo 15-3, 15-11.

Results

Men's singles: Irwansyah (Wal) bt Nikhil Kanetkar (Ind) 15/6, 15/11

Women's singles: Karina de Wit (Ned) bt Elena Sukhareva (Rus) 13/10, 11/5

Men's doubles: Nikolai Zuev & Stanislav Pukhov (Rus) bt Peter Jeffrey & Julian Robertson (Eng) 15/3, 15/11

Women's doubles: Ella Tripp & Joanne Wright (Eng) bt Liza Parker & Suzanne Rayappan (Eng) 11/7, 13/11

Mixed doubles: Nikolai Zuev & Marina Yakusheva (Rus) bt Matthew Hughes & Joanne Muggeridge (Wal) 11/4, 11/6.