Rajasthan Duo Triumphs in Nail-Biting U-15 Boys Doubles Final at Jaipur Badminton Tournament
In a spectacular display of skill and determination, Rajasthan's own Vayam Lamba and Shreyansh Choudhary emerged victorious in the U-15 boys doubles category at the prestigious Yonex-Sunrise All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton tournament. The thrilling championship match, held at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium in Jaipur, concluded on Thursday after an intense 72-minute battle that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
A Hard-Fought Victory Against Tough Opponents
The home-state pair faced formidable challengers in Aditya Singh Negi from Uttarakhand and Samvit Ramesh representing Jharkhand. Vayam and Shreyansh captivated the local crowd with their outstanding performance, showcasing a masterful array of returns, precise drops, and powerful smashes that were truly a sight to behold. Despite encountering a mid-match slump, the crowd favorites demonstrated remarkable resilience to secure a dramatic win with scores of 22-20, 26-28, 21-18 in a three-game thriller that highlighted their competitive spirit.
Mixed Doubles Silver for Rajasthan-Punjab Partnership
While Rajasthan celebrated gold in the boys doubles, the state's Manan Sharma and his partner Inayat Gulati from Punjab had to settle for silver in the U-15 mixed doubles summit clash. The top-seeded pair faced a tough challenge from second seeds Taabin Anuf Ahamed MF and Jashika Nidiginti Ankaiah, ultimately falling 14-21, 15-21. This victory contributed to Jashika Nidiginti Ankaiah achieving a remarkable double crown at the tournament.
Comprehensive Results Across Age Categories
The tournament showcased exceptional talent across multiple age groups and categories:
U-15 Category Highlights:
- Boys Singles: Anikesh Dutta of Assam dominated S Gomathi Kumaran of Tamil Nadu with a convincing 21-15, 21-15 victory.
- Girls Singles: Fifth-seeded Aryama Chakraborty from West Bengal delivered an upset by defeating top-seeded Himanshi Chandaram of Telangana 21-16, 21-17.
- Girls Doubles: The Tamil Nadu pair of Anushree GS and Jessica Nidighanti claimed the title by overcoming A Chakraborty of West Bengal and A Rachapudi of Andhra Pradesh 23-21, 21-13.
U-17 Category Champions:
- Boys Singles: In an all-Tamil Nadu final, Neeraj Nair PS ended qualifier Suhaas KR's dream run with scores of 21-8, 21-18.
- Girls Singles: Himanshi Chandaram of Telangana secured redemption by trouncing Gatha Suryavanshi of Maharashtra 21-16, 21-16.
- Boys Doubles: Parth Puri and Bhasya Pathak from Gujarat staged a remarkable comeback to upset Akshata Reddy Banjaram and Tanmaynihal Uttam of Telangana 11-21, 21-18, 21-12, claiming their maiden U-17 title.
- Girls Doubles: Telangana twins Aradhya Hanumahia Gari and Avani Hanumahia Gari emerged champions after a marathon battle against Anushka Jennifer AS and Dishitha Singha Gopinath Singh of Tamil Nadu, winning 26-24, 15-21, 21-18.
- Mixed Doubles: V Pahwaan of Haryana and S Chaudhary of Uttarakhand demonstrated exceptional fighting spirit, staging a remarkable comeback to defeat Abheek Sharma of Maharashtra and A Hanumahiya Gari of Telangana 19-21, 21-11, 21-13.
Prestigious Closing Ceremony and Award Distribution
The tournament concluded with a distinguished closing ceremony presided over by Rajasthan Badminton Association secretary KK Sharma as the chief guest. The prize distribution was conducted by an esteemed panel including Dronacharya Award winner Mahavir Saini, Rajasthan Badminton Association vice-president Manoj Dasot, joint secretary Mohammad Zakir Hussain, treasurer Choon Singh Bhati, Rajasthan Badminton Association head coach Atul Gupta, and several officials from the Jaipur District Badminton Association including JP Bhatt, Anil Gupta, Deepak Sharma, Rajiv Dwivedi, Sumant Sharma, Rohit Arya, and Alka Batra.
The Yonex-Sunrise All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton tournament served as a crucial platform for emerging badminton talent from across the nation, with young athletes demonstrating exceptional skill, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit throughout the competition.
