The Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur witnessed the rise of a new badminton star as young shuttler Padmaja Singh delivered a spectacular performance on the fourth day of the O N Dixit Memorial Jaipur District Winter Badminton Championships on Friday. Dominating the courts, she secured two championship titles and advanced to the finals in two additional events, marking herself as the tournament's standout performer.
Padmaja Singh's Dominant Double Victory
Padmaja Singh was in formidable form, competing in and winning two singles finals on the same day. In the U-13 girls singles final, she delivered a commanding performance, defeating Aaradhya Bishnoi with a stunning scoreline of 21-6, 21-2. She continued her winning streak in the U-17 singles final, where she overcame Advita Sharma 21-10, 21-16 to clinch her second gold medal of the day.
Her campaign is far from over, as she has also secured her place in two more finals scheduled for Saturday. She will face Aaradhya Dhingra for the U-15 girls singles crown. Furthermore, in a display of versatility, the duo of Aaradhya and Padmaja have entered the finals of the U-15 girls doubles event.
Thrilling Matches and Other Champions
Friday featured five intense finals across various age categories. The U-11 boys singles title was claimed by Naitik Bansal, who defeated Lakshit Rewar 21-16, 21-13.
One of the most gripping matches of the day was the U-13 boys singles summit clash. Vedhay Jain emerged victorious after a marathon 55-minute, three-game battle against Mudit Pandey. The final scores read 21-12, 12-21, 22-20, highlighting the intense competition.
In the U-15 boys singles category, Tejeshwar Poonia captured the title by beating Nikhil Nath 21-12, 21-17.
Doubles Action and Upcoming Finals
The doubles events also saw fierce competition with several pairs booking their spots in the finals. In the U-11 boys doubles, the teams of Burauddin with Lakshit Rewar and Naitik Bansal with Shiv Chauhan will compete for the title. The pair of Aaradhya Bishnoi and Sagun Tank reached the U-13 girls doubles final.
Other finals set for Saturday include the U-17 boys singles clash between Bhavya Agarwal and Satyam Gurjar.
Tournament Highlights and Dignitaries
The event was graced by chief guests including Jaipur District Badminton Association vice-president Chartered Accountant Prakash Sharma, Ashok Coloni, Ritu Lohiya, and social worker Rajesh Mavewala.
Tournament secretary Atul Gupta noted that matches for veterans aged 55 to 75 years were also conducted late on Friday evening, underscoring the championship's inclusive spirit.
The fourth day of the championships solidified Padmaja Singh's reputation as a rising talent in Indian badminton, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament on Saturday.
