Inter-District Badminton: Nagpur, Pune launch campaign in style

NAGPUR: Title favourites Nagpur and Pune sounded a stern warning to their opponents by launching their campaign in style on the opening day of the Goel Ganga Maharashtra Inter-District Junior Badminton Championship at the Divisional Sports Complex, Mankapur, here on Monday.
Defending champions Nagpur recorded a crushing 3-0 wins in both the U-17 and U-19 team events to sail into the quarter-finals.
Similarly, last year's runners-up Pune made light work of their respective opponents to book their deserving place in the last eight. Formidable Pune defeated Yavatmal 3-0 in the U-17 category, while in the higher age section, they prevailed over Nanded 3-0.
Hosts mauled Raigad 3-0 without breaking much of a sweat in the U-17 pre-quarterfinals. Sudhanshu Bhure provided a perfect start brushing aside Yashoneel Bingley 21-5, 21-9.
In-form Malvika Bansod consolidated the position by outclassing Rutura Joshi 21-8, 21-8. Former sub-junior state champions Rohan Gurbani and Sudhanshu completed the formality with an easy win over Sanket Kelkar and Vedang Kulkarni.
Nagpur will now take on Aurangabad for a spot in the semi-final on Tuesday.
In the U-19 section too, holders had no trouble in booking their spot in the last eight. The home team blanked Dhule 3-0 in the second round after getting a bye in the first round.
Rohan Gurbani and Rashi Lambe proved too strong for Dhule youngsters on their way to registering fluent wins in their respective singles. The tie was sealed when Sourabh Kerhalkar and Gaurav Mithe trounced Yash Dhangar and Roshan Pawar in the boys doubles.
Nagpur will face Satara in the quarter-final. Semi-finals will be played in the evening while finals will be played on Tuesday morning.
Nagpur coach Kiran Makode is satisfied with the performance of both the teams.
"It was a good beginning by our teams. The real test will be from tomorrow when we face quality teams. We will take it match by match. Although we are defending champions and hot favourites to win the titles, we cannot afford to take our opponents lightly," said Makode.
Earlier, guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule inaugurated the six-day tournament, while MBA president Arun Lakhani presided over the function. DNC College principal Baban Taywade, Deputy director of sports Subhash Rewatkar, District Sports Officer Avinash Pund, NDBA president Kunda Vijaykar, secretary Mangesh Kashikar, joint secretary Naresh Chafekar, members Bhavna Agrey, Medha Raje and other NDBA officials were present on the occasion.
RESULTS (Team event, Round 2)
U-17: Nagpur bt Raigad 3-0 (Sudhanshu Bhure bt Yashoneel Bingley 21-5, 21-9; Malvika Bansod bt Rutura Joshi 21-8, 21-8; Rohan Gurbani-Sudhanshu Bhure bt Sanket Kelkar-Vedang Kulkarni 21-12, 21-12).
Aurangabad bt Sangli 3-0; Nashik bt Ratnagiri 3-0; Thane bt Ahmednagar 3-0; Satara bt Greater Mumbai 3-2; Mumbai Suburban bt Amravati 3-0; Kolhapur bt Dhule 3-1; Pune bt Yavatmal 3-0.
U-19: Nagpur bt Dhule 3-0 (Rohan Gurbani bt Yash Dhangar 21-7, 21-9; Rashi Lambe bt Kshitija Patel 21-2, 21-5; Sourabh Kerhalkar-Gaurav Mithe bt Yash Dhangar-Roshan Pawar 21-9, 21-13); Mumbai Suburban bt Aurangabad 3-0 (Deep Rambhiya bt Sourabh Barve 21-5, 21-12; Kalpita Sawant bt Janaki Patil 19-21, 21-19, 21-4; Deep Rambhiya-Akshan Shetty bt Sarvesh Kuberkar-Ved Satonkar 21-11, 21-9); Nashik bt Ahmednagar 3-0; Thane bt Sangli 3-0; Kolhapur bt Ratnagiri 3-0; Satara bt Raigad 3-0; Pune bt Nanded 3-0.