Tag: Aarush Pawaskar

Sports

Shuttlers Bring the Heat at Goa State Badminton Ranking Tournament 2025

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

The Goa State Badminton Ranking Tournament 2025 concluded with a series of electrifying performances at the Indoor Stadium, Campal, Panaji. Organized by Panjim Badminton Club and Panaji Krida Sankul under the aegis of the Goa Badminton Association and in collaboration with the North Goa District Badminton Association and the Sports Authority of Goa, the tournament witnessed top-level badminton action in the U15 and U17 age groups.

Among the standout performers were Advait Balakrishnan, Ritika Chelluri, and Sparsh Kolwalkar, each of whom claimed double titles. In the fiercely contested singles events, Mohammed Umar Shaikh showcased his grit and resilience in the Boys U15 final, fighting back after a first-game loss to defeat Sparsh Kolwalkar 14-21, 21-13, 21-15. In the Girls U15 final, Anaya Kamat put in a dominant display against the third seed Pragya Audi to win 21-16, 21-17. Aarush Pawaskar, the top seed in Boys U17, delivered a clinical performance in the final, cruising past Devansh Sakpal 21-15, 21-10. Ritika Chelluri triumphed in a tough three-game Girls U17 final against Sufiya Shaikh with scores of 21-19, 9-21, 21-15.

Doubles action brought with it plenty of drama and thrilling finishes. In the Boys U15 doubles, Arnav Saraf and Sparsh Kolwalkar overpowered Atharv Sadaye and Shaan C K with a 21-12, 21-13 victory. Girls U15 doubles saw Avni Khyalia and Palak Ramnathkar defeat Aaryaa Metry and Anaya Kamat 21-19, 21-15. Sparsh returned to the court with Aaryaa Metry in the U15 mixed doubles final to secure a second title in a gripping three-game encounter against Arnav Saraf and Niharika Parwar, winning 9-21, 24-22, 21-17.

Advait Balakrishnan’s brilliance continued in the U17 category as he teamed up with Vansh Khedkar to beat Aarush Pawaskar and Owais Tahasildar in the Boys U17 doubles final, 16-21, 21-10, 21-13. Advait then partnered Ritika Chelluri in the mixed doubles final and defeated Vansh and Sufiya in another thrilling three-setter, 19-21, 21-10, 21-19. The Girls U17 doubles final brought the tournament to a dramatic close, with Shivanjali Thite and Sufiya Shaikh edging past Dimple Revankar and Ritika Chelluri 20-22, 21-16, 21-19.

The event not only highlighted the immense talent pool in Goa’s badminton scene but also reflected the dedication of organizers, associations, and coaching teams in fostering competitive spirit and excellence in youth sports.

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Aarush Pawaskar Registers Nail-Biting Win in Main Draw of All India Sub Junior Badminton Tournament

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Lone Goan victor lights up opening day with gutsy three-set thriller in Boys U17 singles

Mapusa, Goa | June 20, 2025 — Goa had its moment of glory on the opening day of the main draw at the Yonex-Sunrise All India Sub Junior (U-15 & U-17) Ranking Badminton Tournament 2025, thanks to a nerve-wracking victory by Aarush Pawaskar. In a highly competitive Boys Singles U17 Round of 64 clash at the Multipurpose Stadium, Peddem, the young Goan talent held his ground and delivered a stellar performance that had the local crowd on its feet.

Aarush outlasted Andhra Pradesh’s Manku Taku in a gripping three-set battle: 21-14, 9-21, 21-19, showcasing not just skill but remarkable composure under pressure. With this victory, he emerged as the only Goan player to progress on a day otherwise dominated by higher-seeded national contenders and visiting states.

🎯 A Lone Win Amid Spirited Battles

While Aarush’s triumph gave Goa a reason to cheer, the day proved tough for other local participants, many of whom bowed out despite brave performances.

In Boys Singles U17,

  • Advait Balakrishnan was defeated by Yash Soni (Rajasthan) 15-21, 10-21.

In Girls Singles U17,

  • Yashila Ritika Chelluri lost to Ketaki Thite (Maharashtra).
  • Shivanjali Thite was overcome by Ridhima Saini (Chhattisgarh).

In Boys Doubles U15,

  • Shaan Cherkala Kunjutty & Mohammed Umar Shaikh went down 12-21, 13-21 to Vihaan Kolhade & Hridaan Padve (Maharashtra).
  • Sparsh Kolwalkar & Arnav Saraf narrowly missed an upset, losing 18-21, 21-12, 20-22 in a thriller.

In Mixed Doubles U15,

  • Arnav Saraf & Niharika Parwar fought valiantly but lost 18-21, 21-19, 16-21 to Edward Adrien & Supreetha Deepak (Karnataka).

In Girls Doubles U15,

  • Dimple Revankar (Goa) & Tanishka Ganji (Telangana), fresh from a strong qualifying run, were ousted by Vijaya Tejashwini Dantuluri (AP) & Joel Rana (Haryana) 12-21, 17-21.

🏅 National Seeds Show Their Strength

The day also saw top seeds across age groups dominate with confident wins:

  • Pushkar Sai (Karnataka), Boys Singles U15 top seed, beat Avish Mehta (Delhi) 21-19, 21-5.
  • Wazir Singh (Punjab), third seed, overcame Yatharth Kirola (Uttarakhand) 21-19, 21-12.
  • Shaina Manimuthu, Girls Singles U15 top seed, cruised past Smriti S. 21-8, 21-13.
  • Avni Vikram Govind (Telangana), third seed, survived a scare before winning 17-21, 22-20, 21-13 over Anvi Patel (Gujarat).
  • In Boys U17, top seed Dev Ruparelia (Maharashtra) and third seed Akhil Reddy Bobba (Telangana) advanced without trouble.

🔥 All Eyes on Aarush

With the tournament heating up, Goan hopes now rest squarely on Aarush Pawaskar, who has shown he has both the game and the mindset to compete against the best in the country. His performance reflects not just personal growth, but the promise of a rising badminton culture in Goa.

“This win means a lot. I stayed focused, even when I lost the second game. I knew if I believed in my shots and didn’t panic, I could pull through,” Aarush said post-match, beaming with the calm confidence of a player far beyond his years.

📍 Tournament at a Glance:

  • 🏟️ Venue: Multipurpose Stadium, Peddem, Mapusa, Goa
  • 🏆 Event: Yonex-Sunrise All India Sub Junior (U-15 & U-17) Ranking Tournament 2025
  • 🗓️ Dates: June 20–25, 2025
  • 🔍 Next Up: Round of 32 matches begin tomorrow; Aarush set to face a seeded player in a high-stakes encounter