PANJIM: Hosts Goa delivered spirited performances to clinch bronze medals in the men’s, women’s and junior boys’ team events as the Yonex Sunrise West Zone Inter-State Badminton Championships 2025 concluded its team championship finals at the Indoor Stadium, Campal, on Thursday.
The championships, organised by the Goa Badminton Association in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Goa, showcased the region’s finest shuttlers, with Maharashtra, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh sharing the top honours.
Maharashtra stamped their dominance by winning the men’s and junior girls’ team titles, Gujarat edged Maharashtra in a thrilling women’s final, while Chhattisgarh powered to the junior boys’ crown.
In the men’s team final, Maharashtra recovered from a poor start to defeat Chhattisgarh 3-1. After Varun Kapur lost the opening singles 8-21, 15-21 to Rounak Chouhan, Maharashtra hit back strongly. Darshan Pujari overcame Harshit Thakur 21-15, 21-16, before doubles duo Viplav and Viraj Kuvale defeated M.V. Abhishek and Sujey Tamboli 21-11, 18-21, 21-14. Sankalp Gurala then sealed the title with a convincing 21-13, 21-14 win over Harshal Bhoyar.
The women’s team final produced a pulsating 3-2 contest, with Gujarat emerging champions. Tasnim Mir set the tone by beating Saad Dharmadhikari 21-13, 21-12, followed by Adita Rao’s 21-16, 21-17 win over Purva Barve. Maharashtra rallied as Anagha Karandikar and Siya Singh defeated Shenan Christian and Yuti Gajjar 21-16, 21-10, and Tanishka Deshpande overcame Aishani Tiwari 21-14, 21-16. However, Rao and Mir held firm in the decider, beating Shruti Mundada and Deshpande 21-18, 21-14 to clinch the crown.
Chhattisgarh swept aside Maharashtra 2-0 in the junior boys’ team final. Rounak Chouhan outlasted India’s No.1 U17 player Dev Ruparelia in a thrilling three-setter 21-16, 19-21, 21-17, before Divyansh Agrawal and Saurav Sahu sealed the tie with a 21-17, 21-12 win over Arjun and Aryan Birajdar.
In the junior girls’ team final, Maharashtra edged Chhattisgarh 2-1. Tanoo Chandra gave Chhattisgarh the lead with a 21-11, 21-7 victory over Ridheema Sarpate, but Maharashtra levelled as Shravani Walekar and Taarini Suri defeated Shweta Pardeshi and Chandra 21-16, 21-17. In the decider, Prakriti Sharma produced a gritty performance to beat Renushri Shyamalarao Yavarna 21-16, 19-21, 21-17 and hand Maharashtra the title.