Tag: Indian Badminton

Sports

Badminton Legend Saina Nehwal Announces Retirement After Glorious Career

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India’s badminton icon Saina Nehwal has officially announced her retirement from professional badminton, marking the end of an illustrious career that inspired a generation of Indian athletes.

The London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist confirmed her decision citing persistent knee injuries and the physical toll of the sport. Saina last appeared on the international circuit at the 2023 Singapore Open and has been away from competitive badminton for nearly two years.

Over the years, Saina emerged as one of India’s most decorated shuttlers, breaking barriers and placing Indian badminton firmly on the global map. Known for her grit, aggression, and fearless approach, she became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in badminton.

Her medal tally across major tournaments stands as a testament to her legacy:

  • Olympics: 🥉
  • World Championships: 🥈🥉
  • Asian Games: 🥉🥉
  • Commonwealth Games: 🥇🥇🥇🥈🥉
  • Uber Cup: 🥉🥉
  • Asian Championships: 🥉🥉🥉
  • World Junior Championships: 🥈🥉

Despite battling injuries in the later stages of her career, Saina continued to inspire with her determination and resilience. Her journey—from a young girl in Hyderabad to a global badminton superstar—has left an indelible mark on Indian sport.

As tributes pour in from across the sporting fraternity and fans worldwide, Saina Nehwal’s legacy will be remembered not just for medals, but for changing the face of women’s badminton in India.

Sports

Goa’s 9-Year-Old Badminton Prodigy Amaira Dhumatker Storms Into Mini National Semifinals

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

Vadodara, Gujarat – At just nine years old, Amaira Dhumatker from Goa has carved her name into Indian badminton history by reaching the semifinals of the Yonex-Sunrise 4th Mini (U-11) National Badminton Championships 2025. Competing at the Sama Sports Complex, Amaira demonstrated remarkable skill, focus, and resilience, defeating some of the country’s best young talent.

In the Round of 64, she convincingly beat Rajasthan’s Pranjal Kumari Dharkar 21-10, 21-3. She continued her dominant run in the Round of 32 with a 21-6, 21-17 victory over West Bengal’s Ahana Srimani, and followed it with a 21-15, 21-14 win against Uttar Pradesh’s Megha Singh in the Round of 16. In the quarterfinals on Wednesday, 10th December 2025, Amaira faced Andhra Pradesh’s Sri Adhya Reddy Kaduluri in a thrilling three-game match, eventually winning 17-21, 21-17, 21-17.

This historic journey has made Amaira the first Goan girl to ever reach the semifinals of the national event and the youngest Indian to achieve this milestone. Currently ranked No. 1 in Goa in both singles and doubles, Amaira has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in Indian badminton. Her fearless play, consistency, and determination have not only assured a medal for Goa but also inspired a generation of young athletes across the country.

As Amaira prepares for the semifinals, her journey reflects the power of passion, hard work, and dreams pursued relentlessly. Goa and the entire Indian badminton community are eagerly watching as this young prodigy continues to make history.

Sports

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

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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.

🔗 #Allycaral – Connecting Global

Sports

Goa’s Amaira Dhumatker Wins Triple Crown at Black Feather Open Junior Championship 2025

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Goa’s young badminton sensation Amaira Dhumatker showcased her extraordinary skills at the Black Feather Open Junior Championship, held on September 7, 2025, at MACHAXI Pragathi, Horamavu, Karnataka.

Triple Crown Achievement

Amaira delivered a stellar performance to clinch three gold medals in:

  • Under-9 girls’ singles
  • Under-11 girls’ singles
  • Under-13 girls’ singles

She defeated top-seeded players from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, proving her dominance across categories and underlining her versatility as a shuttler.

A Rising Star for Goa & India

Winning across three different age groups in a single tournament is an exceptional feat, reflecting both Amaira’s talent and determination. Her triumph has brought pride to Goa’s sporting community and is being hailed as a glimpse into the future of Indian badminton.

As she continues her journey, Amaira Dhumatker is already being celebrated as a name to watch — a young champion on the rise.

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.