Viplav Kuvale had a very successful day winning three titles in the CCI-Greater Mumbai District Badminton Championship 2018, jointly organized by the Cricket Club of India (CCI) and the Greater Mumbai Badminton Association (GBMA). Second seed Viplav produced a solid fighting performance to score a deserving victory against top seed Nigel D’Sa in the men’s singles final.
CCI President, Premal Udani (left) presents the trophies and winners’ cheque to Viplav Kulave who clinched three titles, winning men’s singles and doubles final and also the mixed doubles final in the CCI-Greater Mumbai District Badminton Championship 2018.
Kareena Madan prevailed over Samiaa Shah to win the women’s singles crown. In the final, second-seeded Kareena shrugged off the initial hesitancy in her play before lifting the level of her game to sideline unseeded Samiaa, winning at 21-15, 21-6, at the CCI Badminton courts.
Meanwhile, Viplav showed great character and determination and combined with excellent court coverage he coolly retrieve every smash or picked up the disguised drop shots from Nigel, who tried his best to wrest the advantage. Viplav’s soild defence blunted Nigel’s power play and after leading from the start went onto to take the first game.
However, in the second Viplav seemed to have lost concentration and focus, which allowed Nigel to dominate play and to comfortably win the second to level scores at 1-all and take the clash to the deciding third game. In the decider, both Nigel and Viplav slugged it out as the scores ran close till 15-all. Nigel managed to nose ahead at 17-15 and 18-16 and appeared set to pull through, but he made two errors which Viplav capitalized on to draw level at 18-all. He then went on to win the next three points to complete a satisfying 21-14, 9-21, 21-18 victory.
The top-seeded pair of Akshaya Warang and Viplav Kuvale combined perfectly to easily defeat the unseeded duo of Angha Karandikar and Siddhesh Raut 21-15, 21-12 in the mixed doubles final.
Later in the day, Viplav Kuvale partnering Firoz Mulani brushed of the strong challenge for the Nihar Kelkar and Siddhesh Aroskar as they romped to a close 21-19, 22-20 in the men’s doubles final and complete his hat-trick of victories.
Kareena Madan prevailed over Samiaa Shah to win the women’s singles crown. In the final, second-seeded Kareena shrugged off the initial hesitancy in her play before lifting the level of her game to sideline unseeded Samiaa, winning at 21-15, 21-6, at the CCI Badminton courts.
Results (all finals) – Women singles: 2-Kareena Madan bt Samiaa Shah 21-15, 21-6.
Men singles: 2-Viplav Kuvale bt 1-Nigel D’Sa 21-14, 9-21, 21-18.
Women doubles: 1-Akshaya Warang/Anagha Karandikar bt Ishani Savant/Saniya Shivalkar 21-12, 21-6.
Men doubles: 1-Firoz Mulani/Viplav Kuvale bt 4-Nihar Kelkar/Siddhesh Aroskar 21-19, 22-20.
Mixed doubles: 1- Akshaya Warang/ Viplav Kuvale bt Angha Karandikar/Siddhesh Raut 21-15, 21-12.