STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BADMINTON

Nagpur: Nikhil Kanetkar won his first state title in 1998 when, as a 19-year old, he defeated Rajeev Bagga in the final. And on a memorable Sunday afternoon, this man from Pune, who is now 30, won his second state title with a masterly performance against the 25-year old Nigel D’Sa of Greater Mumbai.
Of course, his eleven year drought of winning another state title was mainly because, as a distinguished employee of Indian Oil, he had to play for them for a good ten years. During that period Kanterkar, who is now based in Bangalore, got better and better as a player and even earned the distinction of representing India in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Now that he is no more burdened with the responsibility of playing for his employers, Kanetkar returned to the state circuit much experienced, much fitter and more hungry to win.
After he had given some badminton lessons to the young and athletic third seed, Eshan Naqvi, in the semifinals, the top seeded Kanterkar was up against the fifth seed Nigel D’Sa who had put out the fourth seed Prashant Bahatre and second seed Manish Rawat on way to the final. However, when it came to the crunch, Kanetkar simply had too much skill, class and experience for his young opponent whom he tamed in straight games winning 22-20, 21-9.
“It gives me a very good
feeling,” Kanetkar told TOI. “It is great to have won the tournament because that is what you look to do every time you enter an event.”
Much like Nikhil Kanetkar, his Pune colleague Sampada Sahasrabuddhe too lived up to her top billing as she stopped her unseeded Mumbai Suburban rival Sonal More 21-16, 21-19. This was the third state title for the 22-year-old Sampada, an M. Com Part II student.
The 23-year old Sonal, who was at her brilliant best in the semifinals against Arundhati Pantawne, found the going tough against the left-handed Sampada who outthought and outduelled her with enough skill and deception.