Karnataka men claim the first National badminton title in nearly five decades

Stepping up: Karnataka’s success came courtesy two outstanding results from S. Bhargav and the young doubles pairing of Nicholas Nathan Raj and Tushar Suveer. | Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Star show: Anmol Kharb won both her singles and doubles rubbers to help Haryana triumph. | Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Karnataka and Haryana emerged the men’s and women’s team winners respectively at the 2024 Senior National Badminton Championship at the KBA courts here on Thursday.

The host produced a splendid performance to beat fancied Railways 3-1 for its first men’s title in nearly five decades. In fact, no one at the venue, including Anup Sridhar, one of Karnataka’s best players, could agree on when the previous victory was.

Karnataka Badminton Association later confirmed 1977 as the year and the body duly announced an additional cash prize of ₹6.5 lakh. For Haryana, remembrance was not a problem, for it was its maiden win. An additional bounty of ₹5.5 lakh made it sweeter.

Karnataka’s success came courtesy two outstanding results from S. Bhargav and the young doubles pairing of Nicholas Nathan Raj and Tushar Suveer.

Bhargav beat junior world championship bronze medallist Ayush Shetty over three games before Nicholas and Tushar outlasted K. Pruthvi Roy and K. Sai Pratheek, runners-up at the recent Syed Modi International. M. Raghu brought the title home with a 21-12, 21-10 rout of Siddharth Pratap Singh. Railways did not field former champion Mithun Manjunath, who was nursing a slight ankle injury sustained on Wednesday.

“We are extremely happy,” said Karnataka coach Jagdish Yadav. “Doubles was crucial. These two juniors [Nicholas and Tushar] know how to control fast shuttles. It is helpful in these Bangalore courts and that made the difference.”

Among women, Haryana pipped Gujarat 3-2. Tasnim Mir and Shreya Lele won two of the three singles matches for Gujarat, but Anmol Kharb won both her singles and doubles rubbers to help Haryana triumph.

The results (finals): Men: Karnataka bt Railways 3-1 (D.S. Saneeth lost to Chirag Sen 21-23, 16-21; S. Bhargav bt Ayush Shetty 13-21, 21-18, 21-16; Nicholas Nathan Raj & Tushar Suveer bt K. Pruthvi Roy & K. Sai Pratheek 16-21, 21-9, 21-19; M. Raghu bt Siddharth Pratap Singh 21-12, 21-10).

Women: Haryana bt Gujarat 3-2 (Devika Sihag lost to Tasnim Mir 25-27, 10-21; Anmol Kharb bt Adita Rao 14-21, 21-17, 21-15; Unnati Hooda & Anmol Kharb bt Shenan Christian & Anjali Rawat 21-8, 21-12; Unnati lost to Shreya Lele 21-19, 19-21, 15-21; Devika & Ridhi Kaur Toor bt Tasnim & Adita 9-21, 21-19, 21-13).