Lucknow — The fourth day of the Yonex Sunrise Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta Memorial All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament at the BBD Badminton Academy in Gomtinagar saw the final round of qualifying draw matches conclude, with players vying for entry into the main draw.
Men’s Singles: Key Qualifying Matches
In a thrilling encounter, Rishank of Uttar Pradesh emerged victorious over Siddharth Thakur of Maharashtra with scores of 15-10, 16-16, and 15-8. This win secured Rishank’s place in the main draw, advancing him closer to the tournament’s critical stages. Siddhant Salar of Uttar Pradesh gained a direct entry into the main draw due to the absence of Karnataka’s Mohit Gowda, marking his advancement without a play-off. Another notable match saw Harshit Tomar of Uttar Pradesh overcoming the 13th-seeded Dhruv Bansal from Chandigarh with scores of 15-13, 13-15, and 17-15, in an intense game that showcased resilience and skill.
Women’s Singles: Taranjeet Kaur’s Entry to the Main Draw
In the women’s singles category, Taranjeet Kaur of Uttar Pradesh clinched her spot in the main draw by defeating Harni Raja of Tamil Nadu. After losing the first set 14-16, Kaur made a comeback with scores of 15-2 and 15-10, showing remarkable adaptability and strength.
District Secondary School Athletics Competition: Shot Put and Running Events
The second day of the District Secondary School Athletics Competition at Chowk Stadium featured various shot put and running events across different age groups. Standout performances in shot put were seen with Aryan taking the top spot in the Under-19 boys’ category, while Julie Singh led in the girls’ division. Deepak Sharma triumphed in the Under-17 boys’ category, and Palak Kumari in the girls’ section. The Under-14 division saw Amit Yadav and Chandni Saroj claim first places in the boys’ and girls’ categories, respectively.
In the running competition, Yuvraj, Sakshi Tiwari, Shivanshu Yadav, Niharika Rawat, Manjeet Kumar, Aisha Verma, and Prachi Yadav each secured first-place finishes, reflecting their speed and stamina across age groups.
Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament: Title Match Scheduled
The Adikavi Maharishi Valmiki Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament will culminate with a highly anticipated final match today at KD Singh Stadium. Set to begin at 5 pm under floodlights, the title clash will pit Tiger Club against PMC. Organizing committee officials, President Valmiki Ankit Ghavri and General Secretary Ashish Ghavri, have confirmed the evening start time, adding excitement to the championship atmosphere.
KD Singh Babu Junior Premier League: Under-12 Friendship Matches
In the ongoing KD Singh Babu Junior Premier League Under-12 Friendship Match, KD Singh Royals and KD Singh Riders secured their spots in the finals by winning their respective semi-final matches. In the first semi-final, KD Singh Royals defeated KD Singh Joints by 20 runs, with a notable half-century by Tushar, who scored 62 runs. In response, KD Singh Joints managed only 100 runs, securing the Royals a comfortable victory and their position in the championship face-off.
With these developments, Lucknow’s sports landscape continues to flourish, from high-stakes badminton tournaments to grassroots cricket and athletics competitions, showcasing the region’s talent across multiple disciplines.
