Despite best efforts from Sairaj Nayse and Shaurya Kumar, Narayana Vidyalayam, Chinchbhuvan, Nagpur team had to settle down with a silver medal in the CBSE Cluster IX Badminton Championship 2024-25 which concluded at All Saints High School, Bhiwandi near Thane on Sunday.
In an exciting Under-17 boys team championship final, Narayana Vidyalayam went down fighting against formidable Pict Model School, Pune 0-2.
In both the singles and doubles, Narayana boys won the first game but could not maintain the strong start as the Pune team halted the impressive run of the Nagpur side.
In the first singles, Sairaj pocketed the opening game 21-16 against Parth Zalavadia. However, Sairaj failed to stop his older rival. At 19-20 in the third and deciding game, net cord went in Parth’s favour leaving Sairaj stranded hopelessly in the mid-court.
Sairaj and Shaurya bagged the extended first game 27-25 in the doubles. Narayana boys fought hard in the next two games but in vain.
Narayana sports teacher Surjit Singh accompanied the team as a coach. More than 60 teams from all over Maharashtra participated in the annual tournament. Narayana U-17 boys was the only team from Nagpur to reach the final. CBSE Nationals will be played later this year.
Results (U-17 boys final)
Pict Model School, Pune bt Narayana Vidyalayam, Nagpur 2-0 (Parth Zalavadia bt Sairaj Nayse 16-21, 21-14, 21-19; Parth Zalavadia-Aditya Patil bt Sairaj Nayse-Shaurya Kumar 25-27, 21-14, 21-15).