Bhilwara: Hosts Rajasthan had to be content with finishing as runners-up in the women’s and Under-19 girls team events finals on the third day of the North Zone Inter-State Badminton Championship here on Friday.In both the finals, Rajasthan squandered away a vital lead and went down fighting, giving twin heart-breaks to the home supporters.In the women’s final, Haryana rallied back from a 0-2 down to edge out Rajasthan 3-2, while in the U-19 girls’ summit clash, Delhi bounced back to beat Rajasthan 2-1, dashing the hosts’ hopes.Delhi regained the men’s title by stunning defending champions Haryana 3-1, while Haryana U-19 boys downed Punjab 2-1 to reign supreme.In the women’s final, Parul Choudhary once again gave Rajasthan a perfect start by brushing aside Jiya Rawat 15-10, 15-12.Sneha Lamba increased the lead with a hard-fought three-game win over Medhavi Nagar. Sneha kept her composure in the deciding game to notch up a brilliant 15-9, 12-15, 15-11 win to extend Rajasthan’s lead to 2-0.At one point, it seemed that the Rajasthan women would achieve historic success by winning one more match. However, Rajasthan later lost both the doubles and singles matches to lose 2-3.
Rajasthan women’s doubles pair of Parul Choudhary and Kavya Swami in action during the final against Haryana in Bhilwara on Friday
Haryana’s Baruni Parshwaal and Jiya Rawat reduced the deficit by outclassing Parul and Kavya Swami 15-4, 15-12.Garima Kundu survived a close call by posting a come-from-behind win over Anandita Tamra. The tall Udaipur girl was just a couple of points away from leading Rajasthan to their first-ever title. However, Garima snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat to register a sensational 9-15, 15-13, 15-9 victory to level the tie score 2-2.In the deciding fifth and last match, Tanu Malik and Shivani Santosh Singh used their experience to good effect to get the better of Sheryl Choudhary and Sneha 15-9, 15-12, ending Rajasthan’s valiant challenge.In the U-19 girls final, Delhi pipped Rajasthan 2-1. Rajasthan’s Parul provided a flying start by dismissing Rishika Nandi 15-10, 15-10 but later the pair of Rishika Nandi and Ishita Negi accounted for Parul and Kavya Swami 18-16, 15-11 (1-1). In the deciding third outing, Ishita overpowered Sneha 15-10, 15-7 to shatter Rajasthan’s dream of winning their maiden crown.In the men’s final, Delhi shocked holders Haryana 3-1. Manav Choudhary defeated Devanshu Chaudhary 15-11, 15-11 while Vansh Dev trounced Manraj Singh 19-17, 15-10 to level the score at 1-1.In the doubles, Haryana’s Devvrat and Saurabh defeated Param Chaudhary and Divyansh Rawat 13-15, 15-7, 15-12, Bharat Raghav defeated Dhingra Madhur 15-6, 8-10, 15-10 to ensure Delhi’s title win.In the boys final, Haryana defeated Punjab 2-1.Organising secretary Abhishek Sharma said that individual matches will be played from 9am on Saturday. The chief guests of the prize distribution ceremony held on Friday evening were senior vice president of the organising committee Nishant Mewara and Sushil Verma of the Narcotics Department. On this occasion, joint secretary of the Badminton Association of India and general secretary of the Rajasthan Badminton Association KK Sharma, former councilor Dara Singh Rajput, Hiralal, Bhupendra Singh Panwar, Roshan Daad and Ritesh Kshrotriya were also present. Individual matches continued till late night, informed chief referee Vinay Joshi.
Rajasthan women’s team pose for a group picture ahead of the Yonex-Sunrise North Zone Inter-State Badminton Championship slated to be held from September 2 to 6 in Bhilwara
RESULTS (ALL FINALS)Women’s: Haryana bt Rajasthan 3-2 (Jiya Rawat lost to Parul Choudhary 10-15, 12-15; Medhavi Nagar lost to Sneha Lamba 9-15, 15-12, 11-15; Baruni Parashwal-Jiya Rawat bt Parul Choudhary-Kavya Swami 15-4, 15-12; Garima Kundu bt Anandita Tamra 9-15, 15-13, 15-9; Tanu Malik-Shivani Santosh Singh bt Shairil Choudhary-Sneha Lamba 15-9, 15-12).U-19 girls Delhi bt Rajasthan 2-1 (Rishika Nandi lost to Parul Choudhary 10-15, 10-15; Rishika Nandi-Ishita Negi bt Parul Choudhary-Kavya Swami 18-16, 15-11; Ishita Negi bt Sneha Lamba 15-10, 15-7).Men’s: Delhi bt Haryana 3-1 (Divyansh Rawat bt Manav Choudhary 15-11, 15-11; Vansh Dev lost to Manraj Singh 17-19, 10-15; Param Choudhary-Divyansh Rawat bt Devvart Mann-Saurabh Nain 13-15, 15-7, 15-12; Madhurr Dhingra bt Bharat Raghav 15-6, 8-15, 15-10).U-19 boys: Haryana bt Punjab 2-1 (Vedant Pahwa bt Jagsher Singh Khangurra 11-15, 21-20, 15-11; Yashveer Rathee-Chaitanya Sehrawat lost to Jagsher Singh Khangurra-Divyam Sachdeva 11-15, 10-15; Sparsh Sood bt Viren Seth 15-13, 15-17, 15-13).
