67th State Open Badminton ChampionshipsK Sonakshi wins U-13 girls singles title as Kasprov-Gunjan claim U-19 mixed doubles title

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 28 : K Sonakshi Singha of Jiribam won the U-13 girls singles title in the 67th State Open Badminton Championships underway at MBA indoor hall at DMU campus today.
Sonakshi won 21-13, 21-18 against Rekispa Soubam of Thoubal in the final today to earn the top honour.
Sonakshi had earned a 21-10, 21-12 win over Linthoi Huirem of Bishnupur district earlier today in the first semi-final while Rekispa reached the final with a 21-18, 21-11 win over L Anjelina Devi of Imphal West in the other semi-final match.
The IE pair of Shriyan L and Th Yangba were crowned U-13 boy's doubles champions as they won 21-18, 21-11 over compatriots M Rustum and Yaiphaba S in the final today.
Shriyan-Yangba managed the final berth with a 21-5, 21-10 win over Thoubal pair of Hemanta L and Keiphangamba Irom while M Rustum and Yaiphaba booked the final ticket with a 21-13, 21-12 win over Thoubal pair of Ksh Jimmy and Wanglen AK.
The day also saw Imphal West's pair of Ch Bellarix and Leonie Tayenjam claim the U-19 girls doubles title with a 21-16, 21-9 win over IE-IW pair of K Gunjan and Sananu Maisnam. Bellarix-Leonie pair had booked the final berth today with a 21-18, 16-21, 23-21 win over IW-IE pair of Chanulembi Sapam and L Nandita before Gunjan and Sananu got the better of IW pair of A Devika and Jianna L 21-19, 21-19.
IW-IE pair of Kasprov Ahanthem and K Gunjan then sealed the U-19 mixed doubles title by registering an easy 21-8, 21-13 win over the Imphal West pair of Borish Salam and Ch Bellarix. Kasprov and Gunjan entered the final with an 18-21, 21-16, 21-12 win over Bpr-IE pair of H Rohenkumar and M Priya Devi while Borish and Bellarix registered a 19-21, 21-19, 21-17.
Tomorrow, Chanulembi Sapam will play Leonie Tayenjam in an all Imphal West U-19 girls singles final clash. Meanwhile, H Malemnganba of Bishnupur and Jomi Singam will fight it out for the U-19 boys singles title before the U-19 boys doubles final between the Bishnupur pair of H Rohenkumkar and RK Alen and IW-Bpr pair of Borish Salam and Brikson L.
H Malemnganba of Bishnupur stormed into the final with an impressive 21-13, 21-13 win over compatriot Rishav Ngangom in the first semi-final today while Jomi edged out Sushanta M of Kakching 21-17, 18-21, 21-19 in a keenly contest semi-final encounter.
In the girls semi-final matches staged this afternoon, Chanulembi Sapam pulled off a hardfought 25-23, 21-17 win over Imphal East rival M Priya Devi while Leonie knocked out K Gunjan 21-16, 21-15 to complete the final line up.
M Suraj of Imphal West and S Pinibash of Thoubal will also face off in the U-13 boys singles final tomorrow.