Manipur Boy Maisnam Meiraba Wins Junior Badminton Title

Chennai, May 26:

The Under-19 Boys Singles at Microplex Global and Yonex-Sunrise All-India Junior Ranking badminton Tournament proved to be one-sided, with Manipur boy Maisnam Meiraba outplaying Aakash Yadav of Delhi before the latter retired hurt. The No. 2 seed Meiraba was leading 21-9, 12-7 when Aakash surrended to his injury.

Manipur had the distinction of claiming another title as Dingku Sing Konthoujam paired up with Maharashtra’s Ritika Thaker to clinch the Mixed Doubles crown. Dingku, however, couldn’t cast the same magic in the Boys Doubles, losing along with Manjit Singh Khwairakpam to Ishaan Bhatnagar & Vishnuvardhan Goud P.

Dingku & Ritika trounced Ishaan Bhatnagar & Tanisha Crasto 21-18, 21-12. On her part, Tanisha teamed up with Aditi Bhatt to take the Girls Doubles title.

Manipur’s top talent Meiraba was on a roll, taking a quick 3-0 lead in Game 1. He attacked confidently to move to 10-4 and 15-6 before wrapping up the opening game 21-9.

He was cantering comfortably in the second game too, with a 5-2 and a 11-7 lead. That’s when Aakash’s injury caught up with him. He gave away the next five points too before throwing in the towel.

Meanwhile, Telangana’s No. 5 seed Samiya Imad Farooqui continued her meteoric rise in badminton, regally capturing the Under-19 Girls Singles title in the  here on Sunday.

The Asia Under-15 champion, hailed as the new prodigy from the Gopichand Academy, comprehensively beat Delhi’s No. 16 seed Aashi Rawat in the final to make up for her friend and top seed P Gayatri Gopichand’s shock exit in the semifinals.

RESULTS (All Finals, Under-19):

Boys Singles: Maisnam Meiraba (2, Mnp) bt Aakash Yadav (5, Dli) 21-9 12-7 Retired

Girls Singles: Samiya Imad Farooqui (5, Tel) bt Aashi Rawat (16, Dli) 21-17, 21-12

Boys Doubles: Ishaan Bhatnagar (Chg) & Vishnuvardhan Goud P (2, Tel) def. Manjit Singh Khwairakpam & Dingku Sing Konthoujam (1, Mnp) 21-18, 21-13

Girls Doubles: Aditi Bhatt (Utr) & Tanisha Crasto (Goa, 2) def. Simran Singhi & Ritika Thakar (6, Mah) 21-14, 21-16

Mixed Doubles: Dingku Singh Konthoujam (Mnp) & Ritika Thacker (5, Mah) def. Ishaan Bhatnagar (Chg) & Tanisha Crasto (Goa) 21-18, 21-12

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