PANAJI: Chinmay Kamat and Anushka Kuvelkar shared a common trait at the Rich Builders all Goa Major Ranking Badminton Tournament — both the upcoming youngsters won triple crowns during the season’s first tourney, organised by Goa Badminton Association (GBA) at Indoor Stadium, Campal-Panaji.
Chinmay won the U-16 boys singles title beating Prathi Naik 21-18, 7-21, 21-19 in a closely fought encounter. Later partnering Rahul Chandrashekar in the U-16 boys event, the talented pair defeated Yash Angle and Prathi Naik 21-15, 17-21, 21-15 to emerge victorious.
The duo also clinched the U-19 boys doubles crown by upsetting the top seeded pair of Sharmad Mahajan and Aniket Shenoy 22-20, 12-21, 21-19.
Anushka Kuvelkar stamped her class and mettle by winning her events with comfortable ease. In the U-16 event she beat Pranjal Chimulkar 21-6, 21-8 and then beat Anura Prabhudesai 21-14, 21-12 to emerge winner in the U-19 category. Anushka partnering Pranjal Chimulkar claimed her triple by winning the U-16 girls double crown, defeating Anura Prabhudesai and Riya Kosambe 21-8, 21-8.
Govind Navelkar, back after a gap of two years after completing his NIS, set the stadium alight with a commanding display, to beat the reigning men’s singles champion Floyd Araujo 21-4, 21-12 in an exhilarating performance. Govind Navelkar, partnering former state champion Pankaj Navelkar then bagged the double by winning the men’s doubles event, defeating Floyd Araujo and Navneet Nasnodkar 21-9, 21-19. It was a sweet double for Cancio Mascarnhas too, who won the Veterans 45+ event beating Tanaji Sawant 21-18, 21-13.
Cancio and Vinayak Kamat then won the Veterans doubles event defeating Santosh Prabhudesai and R Borkar 18-21, 21-11, 21-16 in a seesaw battle.
In the other final events, Anura Prabhudesai beat Emilia Silveira 21-9, 21-11 in the U-13 girls singles category while Dhruv Angle beat Tejan Fallary 21-12, 21-18 in the U-13 boys singles event and Sharmad Mahajan beat Aniket Shenoy 13-21, 21-13, 21-15 in the
boys U-19 event.
Mr Gaurish Dhond was the chief guest and distributed the prizes in the presence of GBA secretary Mr Narahar Thakur, guest of honour Mr Richard De Souza, MD, Goa Forest Development Corporation other GBA office-bearers Mr Baburao Naik, Mr Shashant Naik and Mr Sandeep Heble; and NIS coaches Roy Athaide and Vinayak Kamat. Shashank Desai won the promising player prize. Pradosh Silimkhan compered and proposed the vote of thanks.
