Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar witnessed a dramatic finale at the Maharashtra State Championships 2025, where Nagpur’s Ritika Thaker and Deep Rambhiya once again showcased their trademark resilience with a come-from-behind victory to clinch the title.
After a hard-fought semifinal, Ritika and Deep faced the top-seeded duo from Thane, Aman Sanjay and Anagha Karandikar, in the summit clash.
The final began on a shaky note for the Nagpur pair, as they trailed 6–16 in the opening game. Despite a spirited fightback, they narrowly lost 29–30 under the golden point rule. The second game was equally intense, with Ritika and Deep maintaining a slender 3–4 point lead. However, the top seeds fought back to level the scores at 18-all. Rising to the occasion, Ritika and Deep switched gears, displaying aggression at crucial points to close the game 23–21 and push the contest into a decider.
The third game initially tilted heavily in favour of the top seeds, who surged ahead 11–5. Just when the title seemed slipping away, Ritika and Deep produced a remarkable turnaround. Using sharp placements, delicate touches, and well-timed aggression, they clawed back to 12-all. From there, the duo dominated proceedings, with Ritika setting up the rallies and Deep finishing them with precision. They wrapped up the decider 21–13 to seal the championship in a match that lasted over an hour.
Speaking after the victory, Ritika admitted the turnaround required a shift in strategy.
“We conceded a big lead in the decider, but changing our approach worked well. I focused on creating openings, and Deep executed the finishes perfectly,” she said.
She also expressed gratitude to her parents, coaches Arun Vishnu and Ruthvik, her partner Deep Rambhiya, and NDBA for their support. Ritika currently trains at the Arundhati Arun Badminton Academy, Nagpur.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com