the goan I network
PANAJI
Former State champion Sandhya Melashami bagged two silver medals, while Pednekar siblings - Ashutosh and Leena Pednekar - achieved podium glory at the 43rd Indian Masters (Veteran) National Badminton Championships 2018-19, which concluded at multipurpose stadium, Peddem, Mapusa, on Sunday.
In women’s 35+ singles finals, Sandhya gave a few tense moments to Parul Rawat before losing 21-23, 9-21 to settle for the runner-up trophy. In women’s 35+ doubles finals, Sandhya and partner Aditi Rode from Maharashtra went down fighting in three tough sets to Nupura Bhide / Pooja Patil 22-20, 16-21, 11-21.
Ashutosh Pednekar, a former State champion who dominated the Goa badminton scene for many years, won the mixed doubles title as he along with his partner Naheed Divecha put it across Sanjay Moolur Raghav and Shalini Shetty, winning 21-18, 21-19. In men’s 45+ doubles, Ashutosh and his partner Kiran Makode, who were seeded second in this championship, could not find a way past the pair of former national champion Jaseel Ismail and partner Jaison Xavier. They lost 13-21, 13-21 to settle for the bronze. Jaseel Ismail / Jaison Xavier emerged eventual winners in the category with their opponents Rajesh Sekhar R and Sanjay Ray retiring after trailing 1-6 in the finals.
Leena Pedenekar won the gold in women’s singles category. In the finals, she eased past Pooja Mehta, winning 21-16, 21-13. In women’s doubles 40+, Leena along with her partner Madhavi Kashikar lost to top seeds Swati Chauhan / Pooja Mehta 19-21, 11-21 to bag the bronze and mark a successful campaign for the brother-sister duo who have now shifted base to Maharashtra.
As expected, former national and international stars who were participating in the championship, dominated to bag top honours. In men’s doubles 35+, Sanave Thomas / Joy T Antony defeated Prashant Bahatre / Manish Rawat 21-15, 21-16. In men’s singles 60+, national junior chief coach Sanjay Mishra defeated Rajeev Sharma 16-21, 21-17, 21-18. In mixed doubles 40+, Sameer Abbasi / Swati Chauhan defeated Upendra Fadnis / Nisha Springett 14-21, 21-14, 21-14. In men’s singles 40+, Lakhwinder Singh defeated Tejenkaba 21-16, 21-12. In all, there were 40 different age category events played in formats of singles, doubles and mixed doubles, featuring more than 1800 players from all parts of India.
Special prizes were awarded to Goan shuttlers who reached the quarterfinals and excelled, namely, Sandip Kanji, Darwin Barreto, Parag Chauhan, Vaman Fallary, Marina Albuquerque, Vamanan K, Suresh Kumar Raghavan, Judy Braganza Fernandes, Dr Satish Kudchadkar, Sadanad Talaulikar, Vineeta Adpaikar and Gurudas Kadam and Secletica Rebello.
BAI officials KK Sharma, OD Sharma, Mayur Parikh, Lalnusiama along with GBA President Narahar Thakur, Vice-President Anil Painguinkar, Secretary Sandeep Heble and other members graced the closing function.
