SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Aug 21: Niraj Kesri of Ranchi and Saraah Sharma of Jamshedpur maintaining their supremacy in the state junior badminton bagged boys and girls singles titles respectively of Jharkhand State under-19 championship cum selection trial concluded in Godda on Sunday evening.
In the boys’ singles final, Niraj Kesri defeated Harshit Raj of Gumla district 21-12, 21-13 while Saraah Sharma beat Vaibhavi Maan of Dhanbad in three sets exciting encounter 18-21, 21-15 and 21-17.
Niraj Kesri had also won the singles title of under-19 in the Yonex-Sunrise state championship cum selection trial for the Yonex-Sunrise East Zone tournament held at Dumka last month. Due to injury, Saarah Sharma did not participate in it.
The pair of Ankit Gope (Ranchi) and Priyanshu Tirki (Gumla) annexed the doubles event title by defeating Harshit Raj and Niraj Kesri in the final 15-21, 21-18, 21-17. The girls’ doubles event was not held as reportedly only one pair Yogita Bora and Saarah Sharma made an entry.
In the mixed doubles event, the pair of Harshit Raj and Yogita Bora emerged as champions leaving Raunak Negi (Jamshedpur) and Vaibhavi Maan (Dhanbad) pair in second spot.
Vaibhavi Maan of Dhanbad lost for the third time in the finals of the girls’ under-19 singles event. Last month in the Dumka state championship she lost to Yogita Bora of Ranchi in the final.
In the closing ceremony, Poraiyahat MLA Pradip Yadav was the chief guest and he along with Santhal Pargana DIG Sudarshan Mandal (patron, badminton association), Superintendent of Police NS Meena, SDPO JPN Singh gave away trophies to players.
Godda District Badminton Association president Praresh Soloman welcomed the guest and secretary Md Najmi proposed a vote of thanks.
National grade referee of state Madhurendra Kumar (Maithon, Dhanbad), Washim Akram of Ranchi (match controller), Abhishek Kumar of Dhanbad, Wahid Ansari of Latehar and Madusudan Murmu of Dumka conducted the matches.
