PANJIM: Aashrun Gautam and Pranjal Chimulkar emerged men’s and women’s singles champions respectively in the Late Babai Prabhu Memorial State Badminton Ranking Championship (for senior men and women), organised by Ponda Shuttlers in collaboration with Goa Badminton Association, SAG and the DSYA, at Ponda Sports Complex, recently.
In the high stakes mens final singles game between Aashrun and Tejan Fallary, both players went all out giving their best and neither willing to give an inch. It was Aashrun who finally prevailed at the end of an engaging fast paced match, registering an exciting 21-18, 21-19 win to taste glory for the first time in the men’s singles event.
Pranjal Chimulkar was similarly ecstatic to make a winning comeback in Goa’s Ranking circuit. Back from an injury, Pranjal looked to be in complete command of the women’s singles final, putting it across Yasmin Sayed 21-19, 21-13, though her young opponent did manage to give her a few nervous moments in the first set.
In men’s singles, top seeds and favourites, Tejan Fallary and Dhruv Angle were given a stiff fight by Floyd Araujo and Frederick Fernandes before overcoming them in a 24-26, 21-19, 21-16 win.
Navneet Nasnodkar and former India ranked player Anushka Kuvelkar returned to winning ways, capturing the mixed doubles title in a close 19-21, 21-16, 21-17 three set win over Floyd Araujo and Pranjal Chimulkar.
The festival men’s 100+ doubles event was won by Vaman Fallary and Wilson D’ Souza who ousted Oscar Silveira and Cancio Mascarenhas 17-15, 17-15 to emerge victorious.
