Team Herald
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PANJIM: Goa’s Michael Ryan Mare kept the State’s hopes alive on Day 2 of the Yonex-Sunrise All India Sub Junior (U-13) Ranking Badminton Tournament organised by the Goa Badminton Association under the aegis of Badminton Association of India and the Sports Authority of Goa at Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium, Navelim, on Tuesday.
Michael, Goa’s top ranked player, partnering Sai Charith Abbu of Telangana won their Boys Doubles Round 2 match defeating Ajinkya Desai (Maharashtra) and Aadvik Sah (Uttarakhand) in a tight contest 17-15, 5-15, 15-9, to move into the next round.
Meanwhile, Goa’s Samarth Sakhalkar continued his spirited run in the Boys Singles, edging out Venkat Sai Hishal Kaki (Telangana) 15-12, 15-17, 20-18 in a thrilling Round 3 match before going down to Milkha Shinoy S (Kerala) 12-15, 9-15 in Round 4.
Other Goa players faced tough competition in the qualifiers. Vishwa Parab bowed out in Round 3 despite a strong start, losing to Panshul Seth (Odisha) 15-10, 10-15, 12-15. Daksh Kamat was ousted by Maharashtra’s Prathamesh Jagdale 7-15, 5-15. In Girls Singles, Amaira Dhumatker impressed again but was edged out in Round 3 by Jiyashree R. (Tamil Nadu) 9-15, 8-15. Goa’s Kanika Pai Vernekar too exited in Round 2, going down 7-15, 5-15 to Samanvitha Padamata (Andhra Pradesh). Goa’s Boys Doubles pair Pratik Naik Borkar and Varun Sahakari lost 4-15, 4-15 to Advait Sattu and Advik Shukla of Telangana.
Among the top nationally ranked qualifying seeds, Kandarp Khatri (Uttar Pradesh) stunned second seed Kyon Tamin (Arunachal Pradesh) 13-15, 15-5, 15-10 in Boys Singles Round 4. Meanwhile, third seed Jatin Saraf (Maharashtra) powered past Pratham Sandeep Bayar (Karnataka) 15-6, 15-6, and fourth seed Kian Yadav (Rajasthan) crushed Abhiraj Singh (Uttarakhand) 15-2, 15-4.
In Girls Singles, top seed Twinkle Malik (Haryana) had a smooth passage into the next round, defeating Adyasha Lenka (Odisha) 15-8, 15-13. Padmja Singh (2) (Rajasthan) beat Tanya Nanubolu (Andhra Pradesh) 15-5, 6-15, 15-8, while third seed Vanya Choudhary (Uttar Pradesh) dismissed Kavya Vora (Gujarat) 15-2, 15-4. The main draws will start on Wednesday.