NAGPUR: Rohan Gurbani won back-to-back singles and doubles contests to help Nagpur edge past Pune in an exciting men's final 3-2 and emerge as state champions in the Maharashtra senior inter-district badminton championship which concluded at Thane on Tuesday. While Nagpur men registered a come-from-behind triumph, their women's team went down fighting to hosts Thane 1-2.
In the men's final, Sankalp Gurala gave a false start to Nagpur as he lost the thrilling 63-minute first singles tie to Pune's Arya Bhivpathaki 22-20, 11-21, 4-21. Despite the first setback, experienced Rohan kept his cool and brought parity for Nagpur by making light work of Washim Shaikh 22-20, 21-18 in just 30 minutes. With an aim to take lead in the final, Rohan joined Akshan Shetty for the doubles clash as they defeated Pune's duo of Narendra Gogawale and Yash Shah 14-21, 21-18, 21-18 in 57 minutes.
Pune's Rishabh Deshpande outplayed Nabeel Ahmed to level the scores for his team. In the deciding doubles clash, Ajinkya Patharkar and Sankalp Gurala defeated Pune's pair of Rishabh and Arya 12-21, 22-20, 21-14 to clinch the men's title for Nagpur.
The women's summit clash was a heartbreak for Ritika Thaker-led young Nagpur girls.
RESULTS (BOTH FINALS)
MEN: Nagpur bt Pune 3-2 (Sankalp Gurala lost to Arya Bhivpathaki 22-20, 11-21, 4-21; Rohan Gurbani bt Washim Shaikh 22-20, 21-18; Akshan Shetty-Rohan Gurbani bt Narendra Gogawale-Yash Shah 14-21, 21-18, 21-18; Nabeel Ahmed lost to Rishabh Deshpande 11-21, 10-21; Ajinkya Patharkar-Sankalp Gurala bt Arya Bhivpathaki-Rishabh Deshpande 12-21, 22-20, 21-14.
WOMEN: Nagpur lost to Thane 1-2 (Ritika Thaker lost to Mrunmayee Deshpande 18-21, 19-21; Ritika Thaker-Simran Singhi bt Akshaya Warang-Sanyogita Ghorpade 21-13, 21-13; Nehal Gosavi lost to Arya Korgaonkar 14-21, 24-22, 13-21).
