By Our Staff Reporter
DEHRADUN, 29 Jan: The opening day of the 38th National Games Badminton Championship saw an intense battles across both men’s and women’s team competitions. The Multi-Purpose Hall at Parade Ground in Dehradun witnessed hard-fought duels as the country’s top badminton players showcased their skills on the national stage.
In Men’s Group B, Arunachal Pradesh faced Rajasthan in a highly competitive match but ultimately fell 1-4. Rajasthan displayed dominant play, winning crucial doubles rubbers and securing victories across the singles to seal the win. Arunachal Pradesh showed flashes of promise but couldn’t get the crucial points when needed.
Meanwhile, in Women’s Group B, the host state Uttarakhand delivered a strong performance, edging out Gujarat 3-2 in a hard-fought contest. The match was a rollercoaster, with both teams battling for supremacy throughout. The final doubles rubber sw the host team clinch the win, riding on the crowd’s energy and their player’s resilience.
In the second half of the day, the Men’s Group A saw Karnataka get stunned by Uttarakhand , who secured a narrow 3-2 victory. Karnataka’s Nitin and others were unable to capitalize on early opportunities, and Uttarakhand displayed tactical brilliance in their doubles rubbers, which ultimately decided the match. Karnataka fought hard, but Uttarakhands’ depth proved too strong.
The Women’s Group A competition saw Assam face off against Haryana in what turned out to be a dominant 4-1 victory for Haryana. Anmol Kharb and her teammates controlled the match, with Anmol’s standout singles and doubles wins playing a key role in their success.
As the second half of the day unfolded, Chhattisgarh came through with a solid 3-2 win over Rajasthan in Men’s Group B. The match had plenty of twists and turns, but Chhattisgarh’s focused team play and strong doubles efforts ensured they came out on top.
In the Women’s Group B category, the host state Uttarakhand was back in action against Karnataka in a gripping encounter. Despite a valiant performance from Karnataka, the host state claimed a narrow 3-2 victory, with crucial wins in both singles and doubles to secure their second win of the day.
