CITY EXCELS IN DISTRICT BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

With five titles going to players from Thane city at the recently concluded 21 st Thane District Badminton Championship, it proved once again that the city has become a big hub when it comes to the sport

Nasser Lalljee

(Clockwise from above) Jishnu Sanyal and Akshay Dewalkar during their doubles bout. Sonal More who won the Women Singles Badminton Championship; Sailee Rane won the Sub-Junior girl's title. Amit Khadgi took the Men's singles crown

RESULTS: MEN: Single: Amit Khadgi bt Akahay Dewalkar 21-10, 21-18 Doubles: Akshay Dewallkar / Jishni Sanyal bt Rohit More / Mayur Ghatnektar 21-13, 21-17 Junior Biy's singles: Eshan Nagvi bt Sanket Shirbhate 21-10, 21-19 Junior boy's singles: Dheeraj kumar bt Bishal Das 13-21, 21-12, 21-10 Midget boy's singles: Amey power bt Kabir Karizarkar 21-11, 18-21, 21-15 WIMEN: Singles: Sonal More bt Saili Rane 21-17, 18-21, 23-21 Sub-junior girl's final: Saili Rane bt Minti Kaur 21-15, 21-9 Midget girl's singles: Vaishnavi Patil bt Vallari Bukane 21-15, 18-21, 21-14

Twenty one- year-old Amit Khadgi of Navi Mumbai, who represents Western Railway, won the prestigious men's singles title defeating Akshay Dewalkar of Air India in the finals of the 21 st Thane District Badminton Championship, which was hosted by Navi Mumbai Sports Association and organised by Thane City and District Badminton Association. The matches were held at the indoor sport complex of Navi Mumbai Sports Association at between July 8 and 12.

However, Navi Mumbai's celebration ended over there as Thane bagged the remaining titles. Sonal More of Thane clinched the Ladies Singles final by defeating fellow Thaneite Saili Rane. However, Rane had a lot to celebrate for, as she ended up winning a double crown in the junior and sub-junior category.

In another event, 16-yearold Eshan Naqvi grabbed a double crown in the Junior Boys Section. He outclassed Sanket Shirbhate in the finals winning in straight sets. He then went on to team with Shirbate to defeat Bisal Das and Dhiraj Kumar in the junior boy's finals.

The men's doubles event was clinched by the top seeded team of Jishnu Sanyal and Akshay Dewalkar.

This tournament, which received a record 350 entries, saw players coming from across the district in places like Ambarnath, Badlapur, Vasai, Kalyan, Dombivli and even from remote places like Wada. More than a 100 participants from Navi Mumbai entered in this championship.