Team Herald
PANJIM: Young Goa and India star Tanisha Crasto and her partner Rutuparna Panda from Orissa have won the women’s doubles selections trials tournament, organised by Badminton Association of India for the upcoming Sudirman Cup and the Thomas and Uber Cup.
The tournament for India’s elite players is being held at Pullela Gopichand Academy at Hyderabad.
The Goa teenager who partnered Rutupurna for the first time scored a sensational 21-14, 21-19 win over reigning National champions Shikha Gautam and Ashwini Bhat in final.
Earlier, during the league stages, the young pair had stunned India International stars Ashwini Ponappa and Sikki Reddy by a 21-18, 21-18 scoreline to top their league and qualify for the final.
“This is extremely delightful news for badminton in Goa. Tanisha is a rising star and the lone Goan in the Target Olympcs Podium Scheme (TOPS), a Government of India programme to groom India’s brightest prospects for Paris 2024. The amazing win should seal Tanisha and her partner’s berths in the India senior squads for the prestigious upcoming championships. Congratulations and great going”, stated Sandeep Heble, the Goa Badminton Association Secretary in his congratulatory message.
The Sudirman Cup will be held in Vantaa, Finland during the last week of September while Aarhus, Denmark will be the host city to stage the Thomas and Uber Cup scheduled later in October.
