Sub Junior nationals: Simran, Kanika, Gulshan and Maisnam crowned champions

Mumbai girl Simran Singhi with
the sub junior national u-13 trophy

The 27th sub junior national badminton championship in Cuttack, Orissa turned out to be a nightmare for higher rated players as most finals on Saturday proved that seeding were just incidental in the final analysis.

Qualifier Simran Singhi of Maharashtra led the charge of the underdogs as she upset sixth seed and statemate Ritika Thaker 21-10, 21-12 in the u-13 girls singles final to win her maiden national crown.

Simran, who trains at the Uday Pawar Badminton Academy, did not drop a single game through the main draw and was clearly the better player on the final day.

The boy’s u-13 and u-15 finals also saw upset victories as Maisnam Meiraba of Manipur and Karthikey Gulshan Kumar of Delhi were crowned championship in the two categories respectively.

Maisnam, seeded fifth, came from behind to beat top seed Akash Yadav 14-21, 21-12, 24-22, while Karthikey defeated top seed Arintap Dasgupta 22-20, 17-21, 21-8.

Delhi’s Kanika Kanwal, however, ensured that the girl’s u-15 final went according to the seeding list as she got the better of Ashmita Chaliha 21-15, 10-21, 21-10 in the final.

Results

U-13

Girls Singles: Simran Singh bt 6-Ritika Thaker 21-10, 21-12

Girls doubles: Richa Muktibodh/Drithi Yatheesh bt 2-M Nivetha/S Winona 22-20, 21-12

Boys singles: 5-Maisnam Meiraba bt 1-Akash Yadav 14-21, 21-12, 24-22

Boys doubles: 1-Tukum Laa/Yash Raikwar bt Maisnam Meiraba/Akash Thakur 14-21, 21-12, 21-15

U-15

Girls singles: 1-Kanika Kanwal bt Ashmita Chaliha 21-15, 10-21, 21-10

Girls doubles: K Ashwini Bhat/U K MIthula bt 2-Cherish D’Souza/Kalpita Sawant 21-14, 16-21, 21-16

Boys singles: 2-Karthikey Gulshan Kumar bt 1-Arintap Dasgupta 22-20, 17-21, 21-8

Boys doubles: 2-D Sanjai Srivatsa/S Sribalaji bt 1-G Krishna Prasad/R Satwik Sai Raj 21-14, 21-10