Twin titles for Ritika-Simran in Maharashtra junior badminton

NAGPUR: Sub-junior girls Ritika Thaker of Nagpur and her partner Simran Singhi of Mumbai Suburban defied their age by winning the U-17 as well as U-19 girls doubles title at the 1st Maharashtra Junior (U-17, U-19) State Selection Badminton tournament which concluded at Karad on Wednesday.
The numero uno duo of India (U-15 girls doubles) thrashed Radhika Dagaonkar (MS) and Aditi Kute (Nashik) 21-10, 21-14 in the U-17 girls doubles final.
A couple of hours later in the U-19 doubles summit clash, the in-form pair steamrolled much older Greater Mumbai duo of Akshaya Warang and Kareena Madan also in straight games 21-17, 21-9 to annex the title.
The success of Ritika and Simran is creditable considering the fact that they achieved this feat in their maiden appearance in the higher category state tournament.
It was a memorable day for Mrunmayi Saoji too. The promising city shuttler pocketed the U-19 girls singles crown, brushing aside the challenge of Vaidehi Choudhari. Top seed Mrunmayi won 21-11, 21-17 in 33 minutes.
However, it was so close yet too far for Sourabh Kelharkar. The talented city shuttler, who is now training at Thane under Shrikant Vad, finished runners-up in the U-19 boys doubles category. Sourabh and his partner Deep Rambhiya, who were top seeds, went down fighting to Nikhil Wadekar and Sai Dinesh Reddy 16-21, 21-23 in 26 minutes.
"I am very happy for our achivement at Karad. I think it is for the first time in history that U-15 girls have captured both U-17 and U-19 titles. I am very grateful to my coaches Robin Simon and Ajay Dayal," said Ritika, a Standard IX student Chanda Devi Saraf School.
RESULTS (ALL FINALS)
U-19 girls singles: 2-Mrunmayi Saoji bt 4-Vaidehi Choudhari 21-11, 21-17.
U-17 girls doubles: Ritika Thaker-Simran Singhi bt Aditi Kute-Radhika Dagaonkar 21-10, 21-15.
U-19 girls doubles: Ritika Thaker-Simran Singhi bt Akshaya Warang-Kareena Madan 21-17, 21-9.
U-19 boys doubles: 1-Sourabh Kerhalkar-Deep Rambhiya lost to 4-Nikhil Wadekar-Sai Dinesh Reddy 16-21, 21-23.