Stylish Mangrish Palekar, one of the state’s top ranked players not long ago, produced superb display of controlled aggression and court craft, while subduing his rivals from Khar Gymkhana, both in singles and doubles, to take hosts Bombay Gymkhana to 2-1 victory and a place in the semifinals of the of the IndusInd Bank-Motiram Cup Inter-Club Badminton tournament, hosted by Bombay Gymkhana here.
Mangrish Palekar
Mangrish knocked out Ishan Ashar in straight games ( 21-9, 21-13) after Bombay Gymkhana lost the opening doubles with Ayaz Billawala and Gautam Lad losing to Purav Suryamurthy and Abhidnya Sawant (14-21, 17-21). But the clincher – the men’s doubles – saw Mangrish at his best alongwith evergreen Shailesh Daga as the pair breezed past Ajay Bhatia and Jahan Ashar 21-12, 21-14 for a spot in the last four..
However, the tie between Borivali’s MCF and Nigel D’sa-led Cricket Club of India was full of thrilling rallies to the delight of goodly crowd. The first doubles saw MCF’s pair of lanky Siddharth Nageshkar and Udit Kakodia matching their famed rivals Nigel and Siddesh Aroskar stroke for stroke. While the first game went to the CCI pair, the MCF boys hit back to grab the second game to take the tie to the wire. Even in the decider, it was just a touch and go affair before the CCI pair triumphed 21-17, 15-21, 21-19. The following singles saw Siddharth Nageshkar soon back on the court against lefthander fresh Yash Tiwari. Siddharth though looked tired after his marathon doubles, continued to play aggressively – though many a times falling on the court while trying to retrieve the shuttle, continued to play aggressively. After both were tied at 1-all, the MCF boy was leading midway, only to lose the initiative through cramps and pains in his legs to go down 21-19, 17-21, 19-21.
Results: MEN: (Motiram Cup): (Quarterfinals):
Bombay Gym bt Khar Gym 2-1: Ayaz Billawalla/Gautam Lad lost to Purav Suryamurthy/Abhidnya Sawant 14-21, 17-21; Mangrish Palekar bt jahan Ashar 21-9, 21-13; Mangrish P/Shailesh Daga bt Ajay Bhatdia/Jahan Ashar 21-12,21-14.
CCI ‘A’ bt MCF (Borivali) 2-0: (First doubles): Nigel D’Sa/Siddesh Aroskar bt Siddharth Nageshkar /Udit Kakadia 21-17, 15-21, 21-19;. (Singles): Yash Tiwari bt Siddharth Nageshkar 19-21, 21-17, 21-19.
Chembur Gym bt Matunga Gym 2-1: Deep Rambhia/Nikhil Kolhatkar bt Siddesh Raut/Viraj Kuwale 21-19, 21-17; Sushant Ravva lost to Varun Majumdar 16-21, 21-17, 17-21; Amey Pawar/Sanket Shetty bt Viplav Kuwale/Akshay Pawar 21-18, 11-21, 21-19.
Goregaon SC bt Catholic Gym 2-0: (1st doubles): Akshan Shetty/Sushrut Karmarkar bt Ashutosh Pednekar/Vilas Kuwale 21-9, 21-9. (Singles): ; Kaushal Dharmamer bt Tyrone Pereira 21-2, 21-4.
WOMEN (Ullal Cup): (Quarterfinals): CCI ‘A’ bt US Club 2-0; Matunga Gym bt Bombay Gym 2-0; Khar Gym bt CCI ‘B’ 2-0.