Tag: badminton

Sports

9-Year-Old Goan Prodigy Amaira Dhumatker Wins Double Gold at Open Junior Badminton Tournament 🏸👑

allycaralgoa

Bengaluru | October 26, 2025: Goa’s young badminton star Amaira Dhumatker, just 9 years old, showcased exceptional talent and composure as she captured two gold medals — in the Under-11 and Under-13 Girls Singles categories — at the MACHAXI Open Junior Badminton Tournament, hosted at Play9 Academy, Bengaluru, Karnataka.

The tournament, organized on October 26, 2025, saw participation from some of the best young talents across India. Competing against older and more experienced players, Amaira impressed with her agility, focus, and powerful gameplay, earning admiration from coaches and spectators alike.

Her journey through the tournament was marked by consecutive victories, displaying not only her athletic skills but also a maturity beyond her years. The double crown win cements her reputation as one of Goa’s most promising young athletes in badminton.

Presented by MACHAXI, the event aimed to promote grassroots sports and provide a platform for emerging players to compete at a national level.

Speaking after her win, Amaira expressed joy and gratitude for her coaches, family, and supporters who have encouraged her to chase her dreams.

This victory adds to Goa’s growing presence on India’s sports map, inspiring other young athletes to dream big and work hard.

🎖️ Tournament: MACHAXI Open Junior Badminton Tournament
📍 Venue: Play9 Academy, Bengaluru, Karnataka
🏅 Titles: U-11 Girls Singles Gold, U-13 Girls Singles Gold
📅 Date: 26 October 2025

Stay tuned to allycaral.com for more stories celebrating Goa’s young achievers in sports and beyond.

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Sports

PV Sindhu Advances to China Masters Quarterfinals with Commanding Victory

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Shenzhen, China – India’s star shuttler and double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has sailed into the quarterfinals of the China Masters badminton tournament with a superb straight-game win over Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong.

Sindhu, ranked 14th in the world, took just 41 minutes to defeat the sixth-seeded Thai opponent 21-15, 21-15, improving her head-to-head record against Chochuwong to 6-5.

The Indian shuttler, who had exited early at the Hong Kong Open last week, expressed delight with the victory:
“I am happy with the win and it was very important for me from the beginning to be alert and give my 100 per cent. She is a top player. After winning the first game, I was much more alert in the second game. The points were going equal so it was very important for me to stay close to her as every point counts. I am happy that I am on the winning side and I gave my best.”

Sindhu emphasized that handling court drift—caused by air-conditioning—is crucial in such matches:
“It’s always there, every tournament there is wind, but it is important that you have control. Sometimes it’s very hard to control.”

Working under Indian women’s singles coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, Sindhu said the partnership is showing steady results:
“He is a very good coach. Initially, we knew it would take time. We coordinated and figured out what needed to be done. As a coach, he is giving his best efforts, and as an athlete, it’s my duty also.”

Sindhu will face the winner of the clash between top seed An Se Young (Korea) and Mia Blichfeldt (Denmark) in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, India’s men’s doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, seeded eighth, are set to face Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin later in the day in their round-of-16 encounter.

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Sports

Pravara Bakhale & Saideep Naik Named Best Players at Borim Badminton Tournament 2025

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

Borim witnessed a celebration of youthful talent and competitive spirit as the Third Annual Swatantryasenani Jairam Vasudev Borkar All Borim High School Badminton Tournament concluded successfully on September 14. Organized by the Borim Development Trust and Swami Vivekanand Vidyaprasarak Mandal, the event was hosted at the Multipurpose Hall of Swami Vivekanand High School and spanned three action-packed days from September 12 to 14.

Young athletes from Swami Vivekanand High School, Pragati Vidyalaya, and Panchasheel English High School participated with enthusiasm in various categories, including Under-14 and Under-17 boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles.

Among the many outstanding performances, Pravara Bakhale and Saideep Naik stood out and were awarded Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Tournament, respectively. Their consistent skill, dedication, and court presence earned praise from organizers and spectators alike.

The tournament’s Guest of Honour, Chetan Magdum—Goa’s top U-19 badminton player, state player, and coach—presented trophies to all winners and runners-up. The event also saw the support of sponsors Udai Borkar and Kedar Borkar, who continue to promote grassroots sports initiatives in the region.

The tournament was smoothly conducted by Ashu Korde, PE teacher at Swami Vivekanand College, ensuring fairness and organization throughout.

The prize distribution ceremony marked a fitting close to the event, celebrating the achievements of young talents and the spirit of community sports in Borim. This tournament once again reinforced the town’s growing reputation as a nurturing ground for emerging sporting talent.

Sports

Goa Clinches Triple Bronze as West Zone Badminton Finals Conclude in Campal

Tanisha Cardozo

PANJIM: Hosts Goa concluded their campaign with a strong showing at the Yonex Sunrise West Zone Inter-State Badminton Championships 2025, securing bronze medals in the men’s, women’s, and junior boys’ team events. The tournament, held at the Indoor Stadium, Campal from August 30 to September 5, featured top talent from across western India and ended with Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh clinching the golds in various categories.

The men’s team final saw Maharashtra battle back after an early loss to defeat Chhattisgarh 3-1. Despite a rough start with Varun Kapur losing the opener, Maharashtra rallied behind solid wins from Darshan Pujari, the doubles team of Viplav and Viraj Kuvale, and a decisive victory by Sankalp Gurala.

In the women’s team final, Gujarat and Maharashtra delivered one of the tournament’s most exciting contests. After Gujarat gained an early 2-0 lead through strong performances by Tasnim Mir and Adita Rao, Maharashtra fought back to level the score. Ultimately, Gujarat’s pairing of Mir and Rao held steady to seal the win 3-2 in a dramatic decider.

Chhattisgarh dominated the junior boys’ team final, defeating a strong Maharashtra side 2-0. Rounak Chouhan led the charge with a thrilling win over India’s top U17 player, Dev Ruparelia, followed by a convincing doubles win by Divyansh Agrawal and Saurav Sahu.

In the junior girls’ team final, Maharashtra edged Chhattisgarh 2-1. After an early setback, Maharashtra’s duo Shravani Walekar and Taarini Suri levelled the score, paving the way for Prakriti Sharma’s gritty three-set victory in the decider.

Throughout the tournament, Goa’s home teams delivered consistent performances, earning them well-deserved bronze medals in three major categories. The championships were jointly organised by the Goa Badminton Association and the Sports Authority of Goa, showcasing the region’s emerging shuttlers and the growing popularity of badminton in the state.

From nail-biting rallies to breakthrough performances, the event reflected the rising standard of regional badminton. With such spirited displays, the future looks bright for both Goa’s young athletes and the broader West Zone badminton ecosystem.

EduConnect

Yousuf Shaikh Crowned Best Player as St. Xavier’s Wins Badminton Title at Goa University Badminton Championship

Tanisha Cardozo

Mapusa, Goa – The court was electric, the stakes high, and the performance? Simply unforgettable. Yousuf Shaikh, representing St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa, was officially crowned the Best Player of the Tournament at the Goa University Intercollegiate Badminton Championship 2025–2026, held at the prestigious SAG Indoor Stadium, Campal.

St. Xavier’s College dominated the men’s competition, culminating in a 3-0 clean sweep in the finals against Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda.

In the first singles, Ashmeet Parsekar set the tone with a commanding 21-11, 21-6 win. Then came Yousuf Shaikh, who took center stage and delivered a tactical masterclass, defeating Sohan Kavlekar 21-14, 21-8. He returned to the court alongside Ashmeet for the doubles, sealing the victory 21-7, 21-7.

“Yousuf’s dominance on the court, his composure under pressure, and sharp shot selection were simply world-class,” said the team coach.

St. Xavier’s had earlier defeated Padre Conceicao College of Engineering in the semi-finals 3-1, while Don Bosco College Engineering had scraped past Don Bosco College, Panjim in a tight 3-2 battle. Both PCCE and Don Bosco, Panjim were awarded joint third place.

Meanwhile, in the women’s category, S.S. Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, Cujira lifted the title, defeating PG Goa University 2-0. Riya Haldankar, who remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, was named Best Player (Women).

But the tournament spotlight, without question, belonged to Yousuf Shaikh. His energy, skill, and leadership turned him into the standout athlete of the championship and a name to remember in Goa’s college sports circuit.

🎉 Congratulations, Yousuf! Your Xavier family is proud.