Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa’s leading badminton talents are gearing up for the State Badminton Ranking Tournament 2025, which will take place on October 18 and 19 at the Indoor Stadium, Campal, Panaji. Organised by Shuttlers Club and Morning Badminton Club under the aegis of the Goa Badminton Association and the Sports Authority of Goa, this event marks the third and final state ranking competition of the season. It will also serve as the official selection tournament to determine Goa’s squad for the Yonex–Sunrise 87th Senior National Badminton Championships, set to be held from December 22 to 28 in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
Among the key names in action will be Shaheen C.K., Sufiya Shaikh, Ritika Chelluri, Aswin Mannambalath, Nishant Shenai, and Arjun Bhagat, all eager to secure top honours and a place in the state team. The Men’s Singles draw is expected to deliver a fierce contest between top seed Nishant Shenai and fast-rising junior Arjun Bhagat, who have split their meetings this season. Close behind are second seeds Soham Naik and Devansh Sakpal, while Advait Balakrishnan and former champion Ayaan Shaikh remain strong contenders capable of causing upsets.
In the Women’s Singles, top seed Janhavi Mahale will face tough opposition from the in-form Sufiya Shaikh, who stunned the field to win the previous ranking event. With challengers such as Shreya Mehta, Anjana Kumari, and Ritika Chelluri also in contention, the competition is expected to be tightly fought.
The doubles categories add another layer of excitement. In Men’s Doubles, the top-seeded duo of Arjun Bhagat and Tejan Fallary will be tested by Aryaman Saraf and Rudra Phadte, as well as the energetic pairing of Aswin Mannambalath and Shaheen C.K., fresh from their maiden senior title win. In the Women’s Doubles, Ritika Chelluri and Riya Haldankar lead the field but face strong challenges from Shreya Mehta and Yasmin Sayed, alongside other promising combinations. The Mixed Doubles event will feature top seeds Shaheen and Ritika aiming to extend their winning streak, with several strong pairs ready to challenge them in what promises to be an action-packed finale to the 2025 badminton season.
