SEASONED badminton players Kiran Makode and veteran Sharad Mahajan brought laurels to the Orange City by emerging victorious in the GK Khubba Memorial Maharashtra State Badminton Championship that concluded at Latur on Tuesday. In the four-day event, Mahajan won men’s singles title in 65-plus category while Makode bagged double crowns by winning 50-plus men’s singles and mixed doubles events. In the 65-plus singles final, Mahajan upset top seed Shaukat Noor Mohammad of Mumbai (former state and national champion). Playing at a very fast pace Mahajan took huge lead in both the games and never allowed Shaukat to settle and come back in game. Mahajan won in straight games 21-8, 21-10.

 

Earlier in QF, Mahajan beat Sharad Chandra Kulkarni of Latur 21-11, 21-8 and in semi-final, he beat second seed Lawangare of Satara 21-10, 21-6. In the 50-plus men’s singles, Makode dashed the hopes of local shuttler Punkaj Pathak defeating him in straight games 21-11, 21-14. Punkaj, who was loudly cheered by the local crowd,tried his best but could not match the pace of Makode. Earlier in the quarter-final, Makode defeated third seed Vilas Kuavle of Mumbai 21-4, 21-13 while in the semi-finals, he ousted second seed Prashant Mukherjee also of Mumbai 21-4, 21-8. In the mixed doubles final, Makode along with his partner Dr Wrishalee Patil of Jalgaon defeated Prashant Mukherjee and Kavita Arun of Mumbai 21-6, 21-8 for his second title.