Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) produced a determined combined performance to overcome hosts Air India Sports Promotion Board (AISPB) 3-2 in a tense and exciting team championship final of the Central Zone Inter State Badminton tournament, played at the Dadoji Konddev Stadium, Thane, on Wednesday. The event is being organised under the aegis of the Badminton Association of India.
The winning PSPB players receive the Team Championship trophy from AISPB, Joint Secretary, Dhanraj Pillay, a four-time Olympian and former Indian hockey captain at the Dadoji Konddev Stadium, Thane, on Wednesday.
Air India got off to flying start when Mithun Manjunath defeated PSPB’s Saurabh Verma 21-18, 11-21, 21-7 in the men’s singles, the first rubber. But, Air India were unable to maintain the winning momentum as Shika Gautam lost to Rituparna Das 16-21, 8-21 in the second rubber, the women’s singles tie, as PSPB levelled scores at 1-all.
PSPB went into the lead winning the third rubber, when their men’s seasoned doubles pair of H.S. Pranoy & Pranav Chopra beat Dhruv Kapila & Sanyam Shukla 21-15, 21-18. But, Air India fought back when the women’s doubles combination of Prajakta Sawant & Sanyogita Ghorpade tamed the PSPB pair of Aparna Balan & Rituparna Das coasting to a 21-15, 21-10 victory in the fourth rubber and to restore parity and take the match to the deciding fifth rubber.
V. Diju, Olympian and Arjuna Awardee, were felicitated by the AISPB
In the deciding tie, the PSBP duo of Aparna Balan & Pranav Chopra kept their nerves to sideline Prajakta Sawant & Sanyam Shukla 23-21, 21-19 to clinch the match in four of the Petroleum outfit.
Meanwhile, Air India felicitated prominent Indian badminton players from PSPB, Manjusha Kanwar, a seven-time National champion and V. Diju, Olympian and Arjuna Awardee.
Manjusha Kanwar, a seven-time National champion felicitated by the AISPB
Results –
Team championship (final): PSPB beat Air India 3-2 (Saurabh Verma lost to Mithun Manjunath18-21, 21-11, 7-21 —
Men’s singles; Rituparna Das bt Shika Gautam 21-16, 21-8 —
Women’s singles; H.S. Pranoy & Pranav Chopra bt Dhruv Kapila & Sanyam Shukla21-15, 21-18 —
Men’s doubles; Aparna Balan & Rituparna Das lost to Prajakta Sawant & Sanyogita Ghorpade 15-21, 10-21 —
Women’s doubles; Aparna Balan & Pranav Chopra bt Prajakta Sawant & Sanyam Shukla 23-21, 21-19 — mixed doubles).