Suhas Nadkarni Maharashtra State Badminton Tournament 2023
by Prashant Kapadia/NHN
Andheri SC down GSM to emerge champions
Mumbai: Unfancied Andheri Sports Complex – Tigers played well and put up some fighting performances to record a stunning 2-1 victory against favourites GSM Sports Club in the Team Championship final of the Suhas Nadkarni Memorial Yonex Sunrise Maharashtra State Open Badminton Tournament 2023, organized by the MIG Cricket Club under the auspices of the Maharashtra Badminton Association (MBA), and played at the MIG Cricket Club courts.
The spirited Andheri Sports Complex team led by Rajat Moitra and comprising of Rahul Tipnis, Sandeep Mohan, Vishal Manchanda, Sushant shetty, Himanshu Vaidya, Pradeep Behrani and Prem Rohera produced some strong performances and combined perfectly to emerge champions.
In the first rubber, the Andheri Sports Complex pair of Rahul Tipnis and Sandeep Mohan were in complete control against the GSM duo of Amit Deshpande and Swapnil Malpathak as they raced to a quick 21-10, 21-12 win in the combination 80+ doubles tie and give their team a 1-0 lead.
However, in the second rubber, combination 90+ doubles, the Andheri pair of Vishal Manchanda and Rajat Moitra lost to the GSM combo of Parag Ekande and Siddharth Patil 17-21, 15-21 and the match went to the third rubber.
In the deciding combination 100+ doubles, the Andheri Sports Complex pairing of Himanshu Vaidya and Sushant Shetty brushed aside a late challenge from the GSM pair of Shivkiran Thakur and Gurmeet Singh Matharu clinching a 21-14, 22-24 and 21-16 to secure the Team Championship title for their team.
Chief Guests, sports legends Prakash Padukone and Sunil Gavaskar presented the winners’ trophy and the certificates and cash awards to the champions and runners-up teams.
Team Championship – Final: Andheri Sports Complex – Tigers beat GSM Sports Club 2-1 (Combination 80+ doubles – Rahul Tipnis/Sandeep Mohan bt Amit Deshpande/Swapnil Malpathak 21-10, 21-12; Combination 90+ doubles – Vishal Manchanda/ Rajat Moitra lost to Parag Ekande/Siddharth Patil 17-21, 15-21; Combination 100+ doubles: Himanshu Vaidya/Sushant Shetty bt Shivkiran Thakur/Gurmeet Singh Matharu 21-14, 22-24, 21-16).
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