MAPUSA: Former Goa State champion, Sandhya Melashami entered into the Women’s singles and doubles semi-finals in the 43rd Indian Masters (Veteran) National Badminton Championships, at Multipurpose Stadium, Peddem-Mapusa, on Saturday.
In Women’s singles 35+, Sandhya upset eight seed Himani Punia Sharma 21-6 21-6 to move into the last four. In women’s doubles 35+ category, Sandhya M. along with her partner Aditi Rode from Maharashtra played brilliantly to knock out second seeded pairing of Rekha Devi A. and Miranda Devi Rajkumari, winning 21-13, 21-16. Former Goa State champions, Pednekar siblings, Ashutosh and Leena, who now represent Maharashtra also made it into the last four grade in their respective categories. In Mixed doubles 45+, Ashutosh Pednekar partnering Naheed Divecha who are seeded number one in this championship put it across Sanyasi Rao Ch. / Kavithaa S. 21-15, 14-21, 21-11 to advance into the semi finals. In 45+ men’s doubles, Ashutosh Pednekar / Kiran Makode seeded number two defeated Deepak Patwardhan / Deepali Joshi 21-12, 23-21 to enter the last four.
Leena Pednekar moved into the Women’s 40+ Singles and doubles semi finals with convincing wins. In 40+ doubles, Leena who partnered Madhavi Kashikar defeated Prerana Joshi / Anika Lele 21-14, 21-13 while in 40+ singles semis, she upset top seed Swati Chauhan, with a straight sets 21-17, 23-21 score line.
With a semi-finals place ensuring a qualification spot at the World Masters in Poland, as many as 9 Goan players / pairs who had played brilliantly earlier to make it into the quarter finals grade had an off day on the courts to bow out and miss a ticket to Poland.
In Men’s singles 45+, Jaison Xavier defeated Sandip Kanji (Goa) 21-2, 21-16.
In Men’s doubles 40+, Sameer Abbasi / Upendra Fadnis defeated Darwin Barreto / Parag Chauhan (Goa) 21-11, 21-7.
In Mixed doubles 50+, Murthy A. V. S. / Kavita Dixit defeated Vaman Fallary / Marina Albuquerque (Goa) 19-21, 21-11, 21-9
In Women’s doubles 50+, Sonali Parikh / Vanessa Pereira defeated Marina Albuquerque (Goa) / Cicily John 25-27, 17-21.
In Men’s singles 60+, Vivek Patil defeated Vamanan K. (Goa) 8-21, 21-8, 21-13.
In Men’s doubles 60+, Bimol Singh Ch. / Kumar Singh L. were stretched the whole distance before prevailing to a 20-22, 21-17, 21-15 win over Goa’s Vamanan K. / Suresh Kumar Raghavan.
In Women’s Singles 55+, Nipuna Sasidharan defeated Braganza Judy Fernandes (Goa) 21-11, 21-13.
In Men’s singles 70+, Satish Gupta defeated Dr Satish Kudchadkar (Goa) 21-14, 21-13.
In Men’s doubles 70+, Shashipal Sulakhe / Damodar Thombre defeated Dr Satish Kudchadkar (Goa) / Suhel Singh Ghai 21-12, 21-11
