By Niharika Singh
Dehradun, 4 Feb: Tamil Nadu’s K Sathish Kumar showcased a masterclass in strategy as he outplayed Uttarakhand’s 16-year-old Suryaksh Rawat 21-17, 21-17 to claim the men’s singles gold at the National Games badminton event held at the Parade Ground indoor hall on Tuesday.
The top-seeded Chennai-born shuttler, who trains in Malaysia, used his superior court coverage and steep jump shots to keep the unseeded Suryaksh on the defensive for most of the final. His deceptive gameplay, particularly his crosscourt smashes and precision in placing the shuttle within the lines, left the young Uttarakhand player struggling to find answers.
Suryaksh, impressed with his resilience in the semifinals, attempted to counter Sathish by engaging him in net play and forcing errors. However, the Tamil Nadu shuttler’s experience and tactical superiority proved too much to handle. With his height advantage and ability to control rallies, Sathish maintained his dominance to seal the victory in straight games.
Meanwhile, in the women’s singles final, Haryana’s Anmol Kharb pulled off an upset by defeating Delhi’s top-seeded Anupama Upadhyaya 21-16, 22-20 to secure the gold medal. Anmol, the 2023 senior National champion, displayed remarkable composure throughout the match. She took an early lead in the first game and never allowed Anupama to find her rhythm.
Despite a late surge from the Delhi shuttler in the second game, Anmol kept her nerves in check, varying the pace of her shots effectively to edge past her opponent in a tight finish. The win further established her as one of India’s brightest young badminton talents.
Both winners showcased exceptional skills and resilience, marking a thrilling conclusion to the National Games badminton tournament.
