Aparna Popat Experiences Mixed Results at G D Birla Memorial Masters Badminton Tournament
It was a day of contrasting fortunes for former Indian badminton star Aparna Popat at the G D Birla Memorial Masters Inter-Club Badminton tournament. The event, promoted by Badminton Gurukul and hosted by the Bombay Gymkhana, saw Popat excel in one category but stumble in another during the semi-final stages.
Success in Women's Doubles 75+ Category
Partnering with Naheed Divecha as the top-seeded duo, Aparna Popat delivered a commanding performance in the 75+ women's doubles semi-final. They decisively defeated the pair of Anagha Deshmukh and Smita Salgaonkar with scores of 21-14 and 21-2. This victory secured their place in the final, showcasing Popat's enduring skill and competitive spirit on the court.
Setback in Uni Doubles Semi-Final
However, Popat's campaign in the Uni Doubles category ended in disappointment. Teaming up with Naval Bir Kumar, she faced the second-seeded duo of Rajesh D'Souza and Bibhash Chatterjee. Despite a valiant effort, Popat and Kumar succumbed to a straight-games defeat, losing 16-21 and 13-21. This result highlighted the intense competition at the tournament, where even seasoned players like Popat faced tough challenges.
Mangrish Palekar Shines with Double Final Appearances
In other notable action, Mangrish Palekar emerged as a standout performer, securing spots in two finals. In the 85+ men's doubles, Palekar partnered with Deepak Jaitley as the top seeds to overpower Siddharth Gupta and Sushant Shetty with a dominant 21-9, 21-10 victory. They will now face the second-seeded pair of Nigel D'Sa and Rohan Radhakrishnan in the final, who advanced after a hard-fought win over Kartik Shah and Maulik Jasapara with scores of 25-23 and 21-19.
Additionally, Palekar continued his impressive run by reaching the 45+ men's doubles final alongside Vikrant. They triumphed over George Koshy and Vivyek Kanchan with a 21-12, 21-14 win. In the final, they will clash with Sushant Shetty and Vishal Manchanda, who defeated Kartik Shah and Maulik J 21-9, 21-16 in their semi-final match.
Other Key Results from the Tournament
The tournament featured several other exciting matches across various categories:
- Uni Doubles Semi-Finals: Naheed Divecha and Shailesh Daga, seeded first, defeated Abhay Naik and Anoop Shukla 21-13, 21-11.
- Women's Doubles 75+ Semi-Finals: The second-seeded pair of Mrs. Palkan Dave and Shweta Thakur beat Kiran Shete and Ramya Venkat 21-11, 21-18.
- Team Championship 2026 Semi-Finals: Goregaon Sports Club A, PJ Hindu Masters Sports Club, WCG Team White, and VS Tigers – Team A all secured victories to advance.
The G D Birla Memorial Masters Inter-Club Badminton tournament continues to be a premier event for veteran and masters players, fostering competitive spirit and camaraderie among participants from various clubs and backgrounds.
