GB Birla Badminton: Double delight for Nachanekar, Palekar, and Divecha

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) Mangrish Palekar, Manoj Nachanekar, and Naheed Divecha bagged double crowns in the G D Birla Memorial Masters Inter-Club badminton Tournament, promoted by Badminton Gurukul, which concluded at the host club, Bombay Gymkhana.

Nachanekar had a fight on his hands against Rahul Bhuvad before winning in three games, 21-12, 16-21, 21-18 to win the professional singles title. He and Bhuvad then got together in the professional doubles final to rally from the loss of the first game and defeat Kalpesh Pednekar and Sanjay Golbare 20-22, 22-20, 21-17.

Palekar partnered with Vikrant to win the 45 men’s doubles, defeating Sushant Shetty and Vishal Manchanda 21-14, 21-11. He then joined hands with Deepak Jaitley to score an equally easy 21-10, 21-13 win over Nigel D’Sa and Rohan Radhakrishnan for the 85+ men’s doubles title.

Naheed Divecha won the 75+ women’s doubles along with Aparna Popat, defeating Palkan Dave and Shweta Thakur 21-13, 21-18. She also lifted the UNI doubles title with Shailesh Daga, defeating Bibhash Chatterjee and Rajesh D’Souza 21-17, 15-21, 21-11.

P J Hindu emerged as the Champion Club, defeating Goregaon Sports Club 2-1 in the Elite Division, while Vanita Samaj Tigers won the Plate, defeating WCG Team White 2-0.

Results (all finals):

MD 85+ (Final)

Deepak Jaitly / Mangirish Palekar [1] bt Nigel D’Sa / Rohan Radhakrishnan [2] – 21-10, 21-13

UNI Doubles (Final)

Naheed Divecha / Shailesh Daga [1] bt Bibhash Chatterjee / Rajesh D Souza [2] – 21-17, 15-21, 21-11

MD 45 (Final)

Mangirish Palekar / Vikrant bt Sushant Shetty / Vishal Manchanda – 21-14, 21-11

WD 75+ (Final)

Aparna Popat / Naheed Divecha [1] bt Mrs Palkan Dave / Shweta Thakur [2] – 21-13, 21-18

Professional Singles (Final)

Manoj Nachanekar [1] bt Rahul Bhuvad – 21-12, 16-21, 21-18

Professional Doubles (Final)