A brilliant performance by Ashmita Chaliha and Isharani Baruah took Assam to a gold medal against Maharashtra in the women’s team championship of the badminton event at the 37th National Games Goa 2023.
Ashmita and Isharani won their respective singles matches against Purva Barve and Aalisha Naik before teaming up to produce a shock upset of the tournament as the Assam makeshift doubles pair stunned Maharashtra’s international doubles specialist Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker in straight games at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium at Taleigao Plateau on Saturday.
Speaking after the final, the Assam duo expressed joy of bagging the National Games gold medal for the first time.
“We knew the challenge we were facing as the opponents are a professional doubles pair. But we did not take any pressure. We focussed on receiving and making them move,” stated Ashmita, who represented India at recent Asian Games in China. “Both of us wanted to give our best,” added Isharani.
Results:
Purva Barve-Ashmita Chaliha16-21 11-21
Aalisha Naik-Isharani Baruah21-9 13-21 18-21
Simran Singhi/Ritika Thaker-Isharani Baruah/Ashmita Chaliha19-21 13-21
