Maharashtra Junior tournament: Nagpur shuttlers dominate Day 2

NAGPUR: City shuttlers dominated the second day of the first Maharashtra Junior Selection (U-17 & U-19) State Badminton tournament at the District Sports Complex in Parbhani on Monday.
U-17 girls singles top seed Malvika Bansod, U-19 girls singles third seed Rashi Lambe, former state champion Sudhanshu Bhure, talented shuttlers Gaurav Mithe, Samarjit Panday and Arya Anchalwar stamped their authority in style to move up in the season’s opening junior tourney.
Southpaw Malvika won both her matches in the U-17 and U-19 girls singles with utmost ease. Similarly, Arya also advanced in both the categories. Shruti Chokhandre and Rashi kept city challenge alive in the U-19 girls singles.
In the boys section, Sudhanshu, Gaurav, Gandhar Nawale and Samarjit were quite impressive and marched ahead. Sudhanshu Bhure overcame a mid-match slump to down Siddhesh Raut 15-12, 8-15, 15-10.
Tall and lanky Gaurav Mithe had no trouble in sidelining Harshal Sancheti in straight games. Gaurav’s regular practice partner Samarjit Panday outsmarted Aniket Nawal 15-4, 15-2. In yet another one-sided encounter, six-feet tall Gandhar Nawale prevailed over Devendra Deore 15-5, 15-12.
In the U-17 girls doubles, city pair Palak Thakkar and Radha Bapat ousted Aurangabad duo Aastha Chakraborty-Janaki Patil 21-13, 21-9.
Divij Shah-Gandhar Nawale rallied back superbly to pip Chirayu Chaudhari-Makarand Nimbalkar 14-15, 15-5, 15-13 in the U-19 boys doubles.
The girls matches are being played at the Nutan College Indoor Hall, said Ravindra Deshmukh of Parbhani District Badminton Association. The pre-quarterfinals and quarterfinals will be played on Tuesday. The five-day long tourney will conclude on Thursday.
RESULTS
U-17 girls singles: 1-Malvika Bansod bt Sonali Mirkhelkar 15-3, 15-6; Arya Anchalwar bt Shruti Patade 15-11, 15-6; Pavitra Somani lost to Siddhi Jadhav 10-15, 9-15; Radha Bapat lost to Pooja Kachare 11-15, 8-15; Sanika Durugkar lost to Neha Shrikhande 7-15, 5-15; Palak Thakkar lost to Janhavi Kanitkar 7-15, 9-15; Shruti Chokhandre lost to Aditi Chougale 15-9, 14-15, 11-15.
U-19 girls singles: Malvika Bansod bt Rutura Joshi 15-8, 15-6; Shruti Chokhandre bt Divisha Raheja 15-4, 15-8; 3-Rashi Lambe bt Ketki Navgire 15-6, 15-9; Arya Anchalwar walkover 2-Smit Toshniwal; Pavitra Somani lost to Riya Kunjir 8-15, 11-15; Radha Bapat lost to Ananya Phadke 13-15, 11-15; Palak Thakkar lost to Anagha Karandikar 9-15, 11-15; Anjali Kshirsagar lost to Janaki Patil 9-15, 15-7, 14-15; Nayan Thakre lost to 4-Sanashree Dhamdhere 15-13, 5-15, 11-15;
U-19 boys singles: Sudhanshu Bhure bt Siddhesh Raut 15-12, 8-15, 15-10; Gaurav Mithe bt Harshal Sancheti 15-4, 15-8; Sudhanshu Bhure bt Darshan Bhaleraoo 14-15, 15-7, 15-8; Samarjit Panday bt Aniket Nawal 15-4, 15-2; Gandhar Nawale bt Devendra Deore 15-5, 15-12; Samarjit Panday bt Tanay Nehate 15-7, 15-7; Kirtesh Chaudhari lost to Parth Lokhande 13-15, 11-15; Gaurav Mithe bt Jahan Asher 12-15, 15-13, 15-9; Gandhar Nawale lost to 3-Aniruddha Mayekar 5-15, 11-15; Divij Shah lost to Kedar Bhide 14-15, 11-15.
U-17 boys singles: Sudhanshu Bhure bt Vikyath Bangera 15-7. 15-7; Kirtesh Chaudhari bt Aaryaveer Deshmukh 15-6, 15-5; Sifat Arora bt Aameyaa Nakashe 15-12, 15-10; Gandhar Nawale bt Parth Deshpande 12-15, 15-9, 15-14.
U-17 girls doubles: Palak Thakkar-Radha Bapat bt Aastha Chakraborty-Janaki Patil 21-13, 21-9.
U-19 boys doubles: Divij Shah-Gandhar Nawale bt Chirayu Chaudhari-Makarand Nimbalkar 14-15, 15-5, 15-13.