PANAJI (GOA)
Smashers emerged champions in the inaugural edition of the Junior Badminton League organised by Panjim Badminton Club in collaboration with Goa Badminton Association and the Sports Authority of Goa. In all, 13 teams competed in the Championship which concluded on Sunday at Indoor stadium, Campal. The winning team comprised of Anjana Kumari, Mehul Jirage, Sachi Dhavalikar, Vedant Chauhan, Ayaan Shaikh and Daniel Phillips. Panjim Blasters, which had in its fold Sushil Nayak, Ayaan Beig, Shaikh Maaz, Aahana Nayak and Yash Halarnkar, emerged as the runners up team after going down in a closely fought finals.
Young Legends, Ponda (Yasmin Sayed, Parth Kantak, Chetan Magdum, Aashutosh Dhavalikar, Yohann Mayekar and Lesha Lotlikar) who beat Mapusa Dragons (Rhea Mallya, Swapnil Mahadeshwar, Minino D’ Souza, Deepak and Dwayne Nazareth) in the semis play-off won the 3rd and 4th place prizes respectively.
Quarters Prizes were awarded to the following teams who played in the Super 8:
Margao Rockets (Lydia Barreto, Rudra Dukle, Aryan Kumar, Archit Bhargava and Harsh Mane)
Margao Warriors (Yash Kunkolienker, Ritesh Borkar, Dhiti Lotlikar, Yash Desai and Anmol Desai)
Sanquelim Slayers (Rhucha Bhobe, Sadiq Attar, Arfath Shaikh, Pranav Rane, Omkar Fullari and Siya Kakodkar)
Champions (Divyesh Shirsat, Andrea Kalavampara, Siya Kolwalkar, Zayde Pereira, Tejas Tendulkar and Shreyas Tendulkar)
Panjim Badminton Club members Sarfraz Sheikh, Sandeep Heble, Krushnan Naik, Parag Chauhan, Sanjay Pai and Hilary Fernandes, Referee Roy Ataide, Sanjay Bhobe, Manager, Bicholim Urban Co-operative Bank, GBA member Dilip Halarnkar graced the closing function.
