Sandhya Melasheemi continued her outstanding run at the Yonex-Sunrise 48th Indian Masters (Veteran) National Badminton Championships, leading Goa’s charge into the finals of the Women’s 40 category. The former State champion and international medalist booked her place in the Women’s Singles 40+ final with a well-earned 21-19, 21-14 win over Lalduhzuali (MIZ) in the semifinals. She also advanced to the Women’s Doubles 40 final, partnering Radhika Madhur Ingalhalikar (MAH), with a dominant 21-7, 21-7 victory over Nadia Mujumdar and Rishu Roy (MP).
In Men’s Doubles 45+, Goa’s Parag Chauhan and Kamlesh Kanji bowed out in the semifinals, going down to Davinder Dhillon (DLI) and Hemant Duggal (MAH) 19-21, 21-17, 12-21, to settle for a well-earned bronze medal.
Among the top Indian performers, the semifinals stage witnessed intense contests across categories. In MS 35, Jaswinder Singh (MAH) defeated top seed Sahil Katlariya (PNB) 21-14, 21-10, while Mohsin Sumra (GUJ) overcame Ravijot Singh (PNB) 21-18, 21-16 to set up the final. In Men’s Doubles 35, the pairs of Manjush Mohan K.K. (CAG) & Vishnu Prasad (KER) and Bennet Antony (CAG) & Mohamed Rehan R. (TN) secured their places in the final.
In Men’s Singles 40, Harshad Bhagwat (MAH) progressed to the final to set up a title clash with Maharashtra’s Peeyush Aggarwal, while in Men’s Doubles 40, the pairs of Mayank Behal (PNB) & Manish Rawat (DLI) and Deepak Jaitly & Aditya Pandya (MAH) advanced to the final. In the 50+ category, Nilesh Phansalkar (MAH) & Shivkiran Singh Thakur and Aneesh K.A. & Pradeep Kumar K.S. (KER) moved into the final of Men’s Doubles 50.
