Yasmin Sayed emerged as a double crown winner; while Rahul Deswal, Aarohi Coutoncar, Floyd Araujo, Fredrick Fernandes, Aryaman Saraf, and Synnovia Dsouza were the other champions on the day at the Late Manohar Dhond Memorial State Major Ranking Badminton Tournament 2024, which concluded at Indoor Stadium, Campal, Panaji. The State Ranking tournament, a crucial selection event for the Senior Nationals, was jointly organised by Dhond’s Sports Club, Evening Badminton Group, and Panaji Krida Sankul in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Goa.
In the Men’s Singles final, top-seeded Rahul Deswal claimed victory over Nishant Shenai with a commanding performance, winning 21-17, 21-9. Aarohi Coutoncar emerged as the Women’s Singles champion after an intense three-set battle, defeating top-seed Sufiya Shaikh 19-21, 21-18, 21-19.
The Men’s Doubles semifinal witnessed a thrilling contest, with Floyd Araujo and Fredrick Fernandes defeating their co – top seeds Aryaman Saraf and Suraj Lama in a nail-biting three-setter, 21-18, 10-21, 21-18, to lift the title. In the Women’s Doubles final, Yasmin Sayed and Synnovia Dsouza teamed up to overcome the top-seeded duo of Shivanjali Thite and Sufiya Shaikh, winning 21-13, 24-22 in a tightly fought match. Yasmin Sayed continued her winning streak in the Mixed Doubles, partnering with Aryaman Saraf to defeat Rahul Deswal and Malaika Lobo 21-19, 21-13, securing her second title of the tournament.
The closing ceremony was graced by the presence of Rajesh Faldessai, MLA of Cumbarjua Constituency, along with Harshad Dhond, Chairman of Dhond’s Sports Club, and former cricketer Ambey Parwatkar. Goa Badminton Association (GBA) officials, including Manoj Patil (President), Praveen Shenoy (Secretary), Sanjay Bhobe (Treasurer), Sandeep Heble (Organising Secretary), Vinayak Kamat (Chief Referee), Narahar Thakur, Dinesh Pai, Navneet Nasnodkar among others.
