Gritty Sanjay enters quarters

MUSCAT: A gritty display by Sanjay V., earned him a place in the last eight of the Boys’ Under-15 singles at the Bank Muscat-sponsored Annual Badminton Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club Muscat.

In a thrilling second round match, Sanjay upset random seed Yash Deshpande in three wellcontested games. Sanjay won the first game but a gallant fightback saw Yash level at one-game-all before Sanjay held his nerves and overcame anxious moments to outplay Yash 21-16, 13-21, 21-15 to reach the last eight stage.

Earlier in the evening, Sanjay had scored a convincing 30-8 win over Nimmala Keerthan to advance to the quarterfinals of the Boys’ Under-13 singles.

Anirudh H., defeated Mokshit Naidu 30-16 to earn a quarterfinal berth against Sanjay V in the under-13 singles. Himesh Haridas also showed good promise with a confident 21-9, 21-10 victory over Rohit Peri to progress to the quarter finals of the Boys’ Under-15 event. Shriesha Sasank emerged to a comfortable 30-5 win over Srivarsha Elangovan to enter quarterfinals of the Girls’ Under-13 singles while Anakha Anil proved too strong for Shafa Fatima Nayaz whom she defeated with a convincing 30-6 margin to enter the last four where she will take on Gauri Krishna who downed Janani A. 30-4.

Teenagers Leon D’Souza and Thomas Mathew showed good teamwork and sound temperament to pip seasoned campaigners Dr Bashir and Johi 13-21, 2118, 22-20 in the first round of the Mens-A doubles match.

In another thrilling doubles match, Rahmath Ali and Prabhu hung in to notch a fine 21-19, 2321 victory over Babu Said and Mathew. In another Mens-A doubles match, the duo of Errol D’Souza and Prajith Prabha coasted to a comfortable 21-6, 21-4 victory over the team of Sunil Sadanandan and Raj Mukundan.