Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Goa’s challenge faced another difficult day at the Yonex Sunrise Under 13 National Ranking Badminton Tournament at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium in Navelim, with several local players bowing out during the qualification rounds.
Varun Sahakari’s campaign ended in Qualification Round 2 after he lost 8-15, 12-15 to Telangana’s Nhaithik T. Shourya Sinari also exited the tournament following a 15-7, 15-11 defeat against Kerala’s Hadhi Hamdhan. Suven Sawant was another Goan player to fall short, going down 15-6, 15-10 to Karnataka’s Abraham Menezes.
In the girls’ doubles competition, Goa’s Yashika Koneru and Saachi Sinai Kenkre struggled against the strong Tamil Nadu pairing of Mullai P.J. and Subiksha S, losing 15-2, 15-1. Another Goan duo, Kanika Pai Vernekar and Ashbah Tahasildar, put up a spirited fight before suffering a narrow three game defeat to Mithra Kirubakaran and Harithra Vaithiyalingam of Tamil Nadu. After taking the second game, the Goan pair eventually lost 12-15, 15-13, 15-7.
Top seeds continued to dominate the tournament with several impressive performances in the boys’ category. Andhra Pradesh’s Nikesh Durbha, the top seed, secured a convincing 15-6, 15-9 victory over Maharashtra’s Parasmay Rane. Karnataka’s Aaditya Guna, seeded second, defeated Haryana’s Yuvraj Singh 15-12, 15-11. Fourth seed Mahidhar Reddy Chappidi from Andhra Pradesh also advanced comfortably after beating Samar Bagaria of Haryana 15-11, 15-4.
Telangana’s Arnav Prakash produced one of the standout performances of the day with an exciting 18-16, 15-8 win over Karnataka’s Asher Fernandes.
In the girls’ singles section, leading contenders Prisha Parmar of Gujarat and Karnataka’s Hemashree progressed smoothly into the next stage.
Attention will now shift to the main draw beginning May 15, where Goa’s leading players including Michael Mare, Pratik Naik Borkar and Vedh Lotliker will lead the boys’ campaign. Rising talent Amaira Dhumatkar, last year’s National Under 11 bronze medallist, is expected to headline Goa’s girls’ squad alongside Kanika Pai Vernekar and Ashbah Tahasildar.
