Double crown for Dhole; Makode, Dayal, Balde excel

NAGPUR: Jayendra Dhole and Ajay Dayal had played several Nagpur district finals in the last decade or so. The experienced duo extended their rivalry to the state-level now when they clashed against each other in the 35 plus men's singles final of the 25th Old Monk Maharashtra Veteran State Badminton Championship which concluded at the Modern College Sports Complex in Pune on Sunday.
In an all-Nagpur summit clash, Dhole overcame the fierce challenge of Dayal 21-18, 21-15 in 29 minutes to clinch the title.Top seed Dhole lived up to his billing to halt the giant-killing run of unseeded Dayal, who was playing his first state veterans tourney.
Dhole added another title to his kitty when he emerged champions in the 35 plus doubles. The top seeded pair of Dhole and Sameer Bhagwat of Pune proved too strong for third seeds Sidhraj Shah and Sushant Nidodi 21-14, 21-17 in the final.
However, Dhole had to be satisfied with the runners-up position in the 35 plus mixed doubles. Dhole and Prerana Joshi were outclassed by top seeds Sameer Bhagwat and Deanne Rodrigues.
In another all-Nagpur final, second seed Vijay Balde upset top seed Sharad Mahajan 21-12, 21-18 in the men's singles 60 plus category.
It was a disappointing day for Kiran Makode, an employee of LIC, as he lost both his finals narrowly. In the men's singles 45 plus final, Ashutosh Pednekar shocked top seed Makode 21-18, 11-21, 21-19 in a thriller.
Top seeds Ayaz Bilawala-Shailesh Daga defeated Makode and Vilas Kuvale (Mumbai) 21-7, 21-14 in the 45 plus men's doubles final.
RESULTS (Finals)
Men's singles 35 plus: 1-Jayendra Dhole bt Ajay Dayal 21-18, 21-15.
Men's singles 45 plus: Ashutosh Pednekar bt 1-Kiran Makode 21-18, 11-21, 21-19.
Men's singles 60 plus: 2-Vijay Balde bt 1-Sharad Mahajan 21-12, 21-18.
Men's doubles 35 plus: 1-Jayendra Dhole-Sameer Bhagwat bt 3-Sidhraj Shah-Sushant Nidodi 21-14, 21-17.
Mixed doubles 35 plus: 1-Sameer Bhagwat-Deanne Rodrigues bt 2-Jayendra Dhole-Prerana Joshi 21-5, 21-7.
Men's doubles 45 plus: 1-Ayaz Bilawala-Shailesh Daga bt Kiran Makode-Vilas Kuvale 21-7, 21-14.
Men's doubles 60 plus: Gautam Ashra-Leroy Dsa bt Sharad Mahajan-Vivek Joshi 24-22, 21-16.