State junior boys finish Inter-State runners up at National Badminton C'ship
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 08 2023:
Manipur lads went down to Chandigarh to settle for Inter-State runners up title at the Yonex-Sunrise 46th Inter State-Inter Zonal and Junior National Badminton Championships 2023 hosted in Bangalore by the Karnataka Badminton Association under the aegis of Badminton Association of India.
Manipur got a first round bye in the two day competition which began yesterday and outlasted Chandigarh 2-1 in the semi-finals.
H Malemnganba handed Manipur the lead with a 21-16, 15-21, 21-15 win over Chandigarh's Samarveer in the opening encounter but the pair of H Rohenkumar and RK Alen went down 20-22, 18-21 to Chandigarh's Samarveer/Rehaan Phutela in the doubles competition leaving the competition open.
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Jomi Singam, however, held off Krishna Sharma 21-16, 9-21, 21-13 to ensure Manipur a 2-1 victory and a place in the final.
In the final, Karnataka team were too good for Manipur and eventually they ended up with the runners up title with 0-2 loss.
H Malemnganba suffered a 14-21, 9-21 to Ayush Shetty in the opening match before H Rohenkumar and RK Alen lost 19-21, 17-21 to the pair of Nicholas Nathan Raj and Tushar Suveer in the following doubles competition.
It is the first time for two time mixed team champions Manipur to finish runners up at the National championship.
Manipur mixed team had won titles back to back in 2018 (Lucknow, UP) and 2019 (Rajahmundry, AP) .
H Malemnganba, Jomi Singam, Sushanta M, Rishav Ng, H Rohenkumar, RK Alen, Kasprov A were part of the State team who were led by Akoijam Pradhipkumar Singh (Manager), Maisnam Romesh Luwang (Coach,YAS) and Wahengbam James Singh (Asst Coach) .