Mrunmayi pips Ritika to win U-19 girls singles title

NAGPUR: It is always a close battle whenever Mrunamyi Saoji faces Ritika Thaker. Although Ritika is four years younger to her practice partner Mrunmayi, she often stretches her senior rival.
On Wednesday in the U-19 girls singles final at the Subhedar Hall, Ritika once again showed that she has improved a lot in the last few months with an inspired performance.
Eighteen-year-old Mrunmayi quelled the spirited challenge of Ritika 21-15, 22-20 to clinch the title on the penultimate day of the Nagpur District Badminton Championship. Mrunmayi, a student of Shivaji Science College, prevented the match from going into the decider by winning the extended second game at 22-20.
In the U-19 boys doubles final, Gaurav Mithe and Vedant Vyas edged out Gandhar Nawle and Divij Shah 21-17, 21-19. Gaurav and Vedant combined well to halt the progress of Gandhar and Divij with aggressive display.
The duo of Divij and Gandhar faced defeat in the U-17 boys doubles final too. Anshul Durgpurohit and Mohak Badkas prevailed over Gandhar and Divij 21-18, 21-11.
In an exciting encounter, Ritika Thaker pipped Malvika Bansod 21-14, 17-21, 21-11 to storm into the U-17 girls singles final. Ritika will take on Mugdha Agre, who thumped Livia Fernandez in the second semifinal.
RESULTS
U-19 girls singles (final): Mrunmayi Saoji bt Ritika Thaker 21-15, 22-20. U-19 boys doubles (final): Gaurav Mithe/Vedant Vyas bt Gandhar Nawle/Divij Shah 21-17, 21-19. U-17 boys doubles (final): Anshul Durgpurohit-Mohak Badkas bt Divij Shah/Gandhar Nawale 21-18, 21-11. U-17 boys singles (QF): Sarvesh Kukde bt Abhiram Sahasrabhojanee 21-16, 21-4; Gaurav Mithe bt Angad Matharu 21-17, 21-13; Sudhanshu Bhure bt Gandhar Nawale 21-9, 21-12; Rohan Gurbani bt Ameya Baheti 21-15, 21-10. U-17 girls singles (semis): Mugdha Agre bt Livia Fernandez 21-12, 21-6; Ritika Thaker bt Malvika Bansod 21-14, 17-21, 21-11. U-19 boys singles (QF): Gaurav Mithe bt Samarjit Pandey 21-17, 21-15; Sudhanshu Bhure bt Angad Matharu 21-12, 21-15; Sarvesh Kukde bt Abhijeet Bhure 21-14, 21-15; Hriday Deshmukh bt Divij Shah 21-17, 21-18.
Men’s singles (QF): Jayendra Dhole bt Raghavendra Chati 21-9, 21-12; Gaurav Rege bt Ajay Dayal 21-18, 21-16; Gaurav Mithe bt Farhan Khan 21-9, 21-13; Govind Sahasrabuddhe bt Pranav Lokhande 21-16, 14-21, 21-19.
Men’s doubles (QF): Raghavendra Chati/Kiran Makode bt Narendra Sainani/Sandeep Singh 21-8, 23-21; Pranav Lokhande/Pratik Bode bt PS Themreikan/Rajkumar Ghosh 21-15, 21-16.
U-19 boys singles (SF): Sarvesh Kukde bt Hriday Deshmukh 21-8, 21-10.