Badminton
Karnataka ends 47-year wait for National Badminton Title
Karnataka’s men’s badminton team achieved a historic victory at the 2024 Senior National Badminton Championship, securing their first title in nearly five decades.
Karnataka men's badminton team (Photo credit: BAI)
Karnataka etched their name in the history books by claiming the men’s team title at the 2024 Senior National Badminton Championship, ending a 47-year drought.
The host team triumphed over the much-favored Railways squad with a commanding 3-1 victory at the Karnataka Badminton Association (KBA) courts on Thursday.
This victory marked Karnataka’s first national team championship since 1977.
The milestone was celebrated with an additional cash reward of ₹6.5 lakh from the Karnataka Badminton Association.
Karnataka’s success was built on the brilliance of their rising stars.
S. Bhargav delivered a crucial singles win against junior world championship bronze medallist Ayush Shetty, turning the tide in favor of the hosts.
In doubles, the young pairing of Nicholas Nathan Raj and Tushar Suveer kept their calm under pressure, defeating the formidable Railways duo of K. Pruthvi Roy and K. Sai Pratheek in a hard-fought three-game match.
Veteran player M. Raghu sealed the historic win with a dominant straight-game victory over Siddharth Pratap Singh, sparking jubilant celebrations in the Bengaluru venue.
Coach Jagdish Yadav attributed the win to the team’s adaptability and preparation. “The doubles match was pivotal. Nicholas and Tushar controlled the game superbly, especially in the fast-paced conditions here in Bengaluru,” he remarked.
Railways, the defending favorites, missed the presence of star player Mithun Manjunath, who was sidelined due to an ankle injury.
On the women’s side, Haryana edged out Gujarat 3-2 in a nail-biting finale. Gujarat’s Tasnim Mir and Shreya Lele secured two crucial singles wins, but Haryana’s Anmol Kharb rose to the occasion. She clinched victories in both her singles and doubles matches, partnering with Unnati Hooda to win the decisive doubles rubber.
Results
Men’s Final:
D.S. Saneeth lost to Chirag Sen 21-23, 16-21
S. Bhargav bt Ayush Shetty 13-21, 21-18, 21-16
Nicholas Nathan Raj & Tushar Suveer bt K. Pruthvi Roy & K. Sai Pratheek 16-21, 21-9, 21-19
M. Raghu bt Siddharth Pratap Singh 21-12, 21-10
Women’s Final:
Haryana 3–2 Gujarat
Devika Sihag lost to Tasnim Mir 25-27, 10-21
Anmol Kharb bt Adita Rao 14-21, 21-17, 21-15
Unnati Hooda & Anmol Kharb bt Shenan Christian & Anjali Rawat 21-8, 21-12
Unnati lost to Shreya Lele 21-19, 19-21, 15-21
Devika & Ridhi Kaur Toor bt Tasnim Mir & Adita Rao 9-21, 21-19, 21-13
