PANAJI
Goan shuttler Tanisha Crasto and her partner Rutuparna Panda from Orissa have won the women’s doubles selections trials tournament organised by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) for the upcoming Sudirman Cup and the Thomas and Uber Cup.
The selection trials tournament for India’s elite players is being held at Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad, with the women's doubles event concluding on Monday. The Goan teenager, who partnered Rutupurna for the first time, scored a sensational 21-14, 21-19 win over reigning national champions Shikha Gautam and Ashwini Bhat in the women's doubles finals.
Earlier during the league stages, the young pair had stunned India international stars Ashwini Ponappa and Sikki Reddy by a 21-18, 21-18 scoreline to top their league and qualify for the finals.
“This is extremely delightful news for badminton in Goa. Tanisha is a rising star and the lone Goan in the Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS),” Sandeep Heble, the Goa Badminton Association Secretary in his congratulatory message. “The amazing win should seal Tanisha and her partner’s berths in the India senior squads for the prestigious upcoming championships. Congratulations and great going,” stated Heble.
Sudirman Cup will be held in Vantaa, Finland during the last week of September while Aarhus, Denmark will be the host city for the Thomas and Uber Cup scheduled later in October.
