Thomas Cupper Akshay Dewalkar was the star performer as hosts Maharashtra rallied from 0-2 down to turn the table on Madhya Pradesh to clinch the senior team title in the West Zone inter-state badminton championships, organized by BOR (Badminton Organisation of Raigadh) and hosted by DY Patil Sports Academy at their Stadium’s badminton hall, at Nerul , here today.
Maharashtra Team
Maharashtra , winners of the men’s West Zone champions on numerous occasions , al beit in a different format, were in for a shock as they lost both their men’s and women’s singles with Harsheel Dani losing to Abhimanyu Singh in a tension-packed opening singles, which went to the wire and seasoned Neha Pandit compounder their vows, beaten squarely by junior India No 1 Shriyanshi Pardesh in straight gamesi. But then Akshay first with Akshay Raut in the men’s doubles and in the concluding mixed double tie, with Revati Devasthale as partner brought them success. In between Mansi Gadgil and Vaishnavi Iyer brought them into the contest by winning women’s doubles tie.
Earlier, spearheaded by India junior No 1 Shriyanshi Pardeshi ,Madhya Pradesh proved their allround strength as they defeated hosts Mahrashtra 3-2 to bag the junior title. Here, Shriyanshi was their architect in their triumph. She figured in both in the semifinals as well in the final, winning the girls singles and doubles as well as playing a pivot role in the decisive mixed doubles tie. The India No1 junior proved streets ahead of her rivals, as she demolished one after another them in straight games.
M.P. Juniors team
Results:
SENIORS (final):Maharashtra bt Madhya Pradesh 3-2:(MS)- Harsheel Dani lost to Abhimanyu Singh 18-21, 21-19, 14-21; (WS)- Neha Pandit lost to Shriyanshi Pardeshi 18-21, 14-21, (MD)- Akshay Dewalkar/Akshay Raut bt Azad Yadav/Shubham Pardeshi 21-7, 21-10; (WD)- Mansi Gadgil/Va ishavi Iyer bt KhusooPatel/Kirti Prasad 21-13, 21-7; (Mix D)- Aksay Dewalkar/Revati Devasthle bt Abhimanyu Singh/ Shriyanshi Pardesh 21-12, 21-15.
JUNIORS (final): Madhya Pradesh bt Maharashtra 3-2: (BS)- Shubham Prajapatti bt Arya Bhivapathaki 21-16, 21-12; (GS)- Shriyanshi Pardeshi bt Mrunmayee Saoji 21-5, 21-11; (BD)- Pramesh Patidar/Sanjay Thakur lost to Deep Rambhia/Pranajeet Shirodkar 21-19, 16-21, 14-21; ;(GD)- Kirti Prasad/Sanjeevni Marathe lost to Akshaya Warang / Mrunmayee Saoji 20-22, 13-21;(Mix D)- Shriyanshi Pardeshi/ Shriyanshi Pardeshi bt Aman Sanjay Farogh/Riya Arolkar 21-10, 21-15.