NAGPUR: City’s doubles specialist Ritika Thaker won both the ties she played on Monday as Maharashtra women made it to the final of the 76th inter-state badminton team championship at Guwahati.
Up against Andhra Pradeshin the quarterfinal, Ritika paired up with Simran Singhi and outclassed Akansha Matte and Mamaikya Lanka 21-6, 21-10 to give Maharashtra a flying start with an easy win in the women’s doubles.Thereafter, Purva Barve got the better of Akanksha Matte in straight games 21-14, 21-16 as Maharashtra made light work of AP 2-0.
Later in an exciting semifinal, played late in the evening, Maharashtra women registered a hard fought 3-2 victory over Punjab.
In the opening match, Maharashtra’s Shruti Mundada defeated Radhika Sharma 22-20, 21-12, while Punjab brought parity by winning the second singles clash after Tanvi Sharma edged out Alisha Naik 21-16, 13-21, 21-16 in a thrilling 42-minute clash.
Punjab women jumped to lead by winning the third match where Maharashtra’s doubles duo of Prerna Avelakar and Mrunmayee Desphande went down against Radhika and Tanvi Sharma 18-21, 18-21. In the fourth match, Maharashtra’s Purva Barve outclassed Manya Rahlan 21-12, 21-8 to bring parity in the semifinal.
The deciding contest was played in the doubles group where Ritika paired up with Akshaya Warang and took 35 minutes to drub Punjab’s Manya Ralhan and Liza Taank in straight games 21-14, 21-13.
With the heroics of Ritika and Purva in the semifinals, Maharashtra defeated Punjab 3-2 to set the summit clash with experienced Airports Authority of India (AAI). In the other semifinal, AAI women registered a hard fought 3-2 win over Railways.
2023-12-19 04:46:56
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