SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 20: Girls under-19 defending champion Saraah Sharma, title favourite Adhya Singh and Anisha Mishra of Jamshedpur have skipped the state badminton championship cum team trial for the East Zone competition scheduled to begin in Dumka Indoor Stadium from tomorrow.
Unofficial sources said that Adhya Singh has almost quit competitive games while injured Anisha Mishra is recovering from her injury. The skipping of Saraah Sharma in this championship is conspicuous.
All the three players reached the semifinal last year held in Dumka. Sarrah Sharma had won triple crowns in under-19 events, including singles, doubles with Adhya and mixed doubles with pairing Niraj Kesri.
She was seen title favourite this time too but her absence is being felt by players.
However, besides these trio, all leading boys and girls players of under-19 and men’s as well as women’s including Vaibhabi Maan (under-19 girls runners up ) of Dhanbad who lost to Sarrah in the final, women’s defending champion Manisha Rani Tirki, Jeenat Ara of Ranchi, Kajal of Lohardagga, Ananya Singh and Yogita Bora of Ranchi are participating.
In the men’s event, all title favourites Emmanuel Kujur of West Singhbhum, Priyanshu Tirki of Gumla, Niraj Kesri of Ranchi and Harshit Raj are participating. The pair of Amaan and Ayaan brothers of Ranchi would also be the centre of attraction in the three-day state championship.
Dumka District Badminton Association (DDBA) secretary Dipak Kumar Jha said that a record 145 boys and girls players are participating in the championship.
Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh would be the chief guest and inaugurate the championship at 10.30 am tomorrow. DIG Dumka range-cum-patron of DDBA Sudarshan Mandal would be the guest of honour on the occasion.
Meanwhile, the examination for badminton umpire candidates also started today. A total of 19 candidates are appearing in the examination.
“All arrangement of the championship has been completed to make it memorable for players and badminton lovers,” said Dipak Kumar Jha, secretary of DDBA.
