Jaipur Duo Vayam Lamba and Shreyansh Choudhary Shine at All India Sub-Junior Badminton Tournament
In a display of remarkable talent and determination, young badminton players Vayam Lamba and Shreyansh Choudhary from Rajasthan delivered a brilliant performance to secure their place in the finals of the prestigious Yonex-Sunrise All India Sub-Junior (U-15 and U-17) Ranking Badminton tournament. The thrilling matches unfolded at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday, captivating audiences with high-intensity action.
Exciting Comeback Victory in U-15 Boys Doubles Semi-Finals
The highlight of the day was the U-15 boys doubles semi-finals, where Vayam and Shreyansh faced off against the formidable pair of Manan Sharma from Rajasthan and Sai Sohan Kota from Andhra Pradesh. In a nail-biting three-game battle, the Rajasthan duo demonstrated incredible resilience by rallying back from a first-game loss to clinch victory with scores of 10-21, 21-19, 21-18. This hard-fought win not only showcased their skill but also their mental fortitude under pressure.
Mixed Doubles Action and Other Key Matches
Earlier in the tournament, the U-15 mixed doubles category saw top-seeded Manan Sharma and Inayat Gulati from Punjab assert their dominance by defeating Vishal Uthappa BB and Hansika Rakesh of Karnataka with a commanding score of 21-8, 21-9 in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Satvik Agarwal and Lakshita Bhardwaj advanced to the semi-finals by ousting Rajasthan's Shreyansh and Padmaja Singh 21-7, 21-11, though they later fell to the second-seeded Tamil Nadu pair of J Nidhi Ginti and TMF 21-14, 21-19, earning a bronze medal.
In the same age group, Shreyansh and Vayam continued their impressive run by outclassing Gautam S Nair and Siddharth S Nair of Karnataka 21-14, 21-13, further solidifying their status as top contenders. However, it was a day of mixed fortunes for Rajasthan, as second seed and title favorite Anvi Rathod suffered an upset in the semi-finals, losing to fifth-seeded Aryama Chakraborty of West Bengal in a thrilling match with scores of 25-23, 22-20, 21-19. Anvi's disappointment was compounded when sixth seed Gatha Suryavanshi of Maharashtra thumped the Jaipur girl 21-11, 21-7 in the U-17 girls singles quarter-finals.
Tournament Officials and Medal Distribution
The event was graced by the presence of key officials, including Advocate General and Chief Patron of Jaipur District Badminton Association Girdhari Singh Bafna and President of Jaipur District Badminton Association Anil Mehta, who were introduced to the players. Medal presentations were conducted by dignitaries such as Indian Handball Association secretary Tejraj Singh, Rajasthan Badminton Association joint secretary Mohammad Zakir Hussain, treasurer Choonsingh Bhati, and vice-president Manoj Dasot. Additionally, Jaipur District Badminton Association treasurer Atul Gupta, along with officials Deepak Sharma, JP Bhatt, Zakir Hussain, Sumant Sharma, Manish Kumar, and Neel Kamal Jain, played a role in distributing medals to the deserving athletes.
This tournament not only highlighted the rising stars of Indian badminton but also underscored the growing talent pool in Rajasthan, with players like Vayam Lamba and Shreyansh Choudhary leading the charge. Their journey to the finals is a testament to their hard work and the supportive badminton community in Jaipur, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the competition.
