NAVELIM: The All-India Masters Ranking Badminton Tournament commenced at Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium, here in Salcete (South Goa), on Sunday. Under the aegis of Badminton Association of India, the event serves as the selection competition for the Indian Masters team in view of the BWF World Seniors Championships in Spain.
Along with the veterans from all over the country, Goan masters were in action on the opening day. Concio Mascarenhas notched up victories in the singles and doubles event in 60years age-group.
In the men’s doubles 55 age-group, Goa’s Ashok Menon and Manish Patel went down fighting 12-21, 20-22 to Rajshekhar Ballal and Ravindra Bhandary. Goa’s Albert Jaques lost to Kerala’s Percy Joseph Desmond 21-17, 17-21, 12-21.
To limit the number of players at the venue and keeping in view Covid norms and regulations, the tournament has been divided into two parts: over the first four days, matches for those in the 55-plus, 60-plus, 65-plus, 70-plus and 75-plus age groups will be played. The second phase will be held from September 23 for those in the 35-plus, 40-plus, 45-plus and 50-plus age brackets.
On the opening day, Goa’s Felipe Barbosa, Bronze medal winner at the Veterans 2018 Nationals registered an exciting 21-12, 17-21, 21-7 win over Maharashtra’s Milind Deshmukh to move into the round of 16 in Men’s Singles 55+. Goa’s top Men’s 60+ Doubles pair of Cancio Mascarenhas and Peter Tellis also sailed into the round of 16 with a comfortable 21-5, 21-13 win over Uttarakhand’s pair of Mohan Martolia / Nawin Chandra. In Men’s Singles 65+, Goa’s Tanaji Sawant was in scintillating form as he eased past Haryana’s Ravindra Nath Kalra 21-6, 21-5 to seal his place in the round of 16. In Men’s Doubles 65+, Goa’s top Doubles pair of Tanaji Sawant / Pradeep Dhond registered an upset 23-21, 21-18 over second seeds Ashok Sharma / Anil Kumar Sondhi to march into the Pre Quarter finals.
The prestigious tournament is a selection tournament to select the India team that will participate in the BWF World Seniors championships to be held in Spain during November – December. There are around 1000 + players who have registered to participate in the 8 day tournament, which is supported by the Sports Authority of Goa.
