NAGPUR’S Raghav Niwarti is in line for twin titles in the YonexSunrise GH Raisoni Memorial Maharashtra (U-9, U-11 and U13) Sub-Junior State Badminton Championship underway at Arundhati Arun Badminton Academy in Besa. On penultimate day of the tournament, Raghav won Under 11 boys singles and doubles semi-finals. Raghav upset seventh seed Swaroop Mande of Ahilya nagar 15-6, 15-6 in straight games to book a place in the final. His task will be cut out as he takes on top seed Pune’s Shaunak Kelkar who cruised past Pradyumna Meshram of  Nagpur 15-3, 15-7 in the other semis. In the quarters, Raghav defeated 14th seed Yohaan Nair from Thane 15-9, 15-11. In boys doubles, partnering city-mate Pradyumna ,Raghav beat Kolhapur pair of Anish Patil and Rushabh Rokade 15-6, 15- 8.

 

In the final, Nagpur’s duo will take on Ahilya nagar’s combo of Keyur Mande and Swaroop Mande who shocked third seed pair of Gautam Sathe and Shaunak Kelkar of Pune 15-9, 15-9 in straight games. OTHER RESULTS (All semi-finals) BS U-9: Vivaan Burnwal (1), Pune bt Aadvik Tiwari, Raigad, 15-7 12-15, 15-6;Abhiraaj Pawar, Ratnagiri bt Srihaan Dubey, Mumbai Suburban, 12-15, 15-10,21-20.GSU-9:Nirja Pawar (1),Sindhudurg bt Aashvi Jadhav, Pune, 17-15, 15-17, 15-10; Irra Kadam (4), Satara bt Reva Patil, Chhatrapati Sambhaji nagar, 15-13, 15-8. GS U-11: Keyara Sakhare(1), Pune btViha Gurav, Pune,15-10, 15-7; RishaKadian, RaigadbtAnviKulkarni (3),Pune, 15-7, 15-5. BS U-13: Aadiraj Shetty, Greater Mumbai bt Rudra Manohar (1), Palghar,15-13, 4-15, 15-11; Arham Bhandari, Thane bt Alfy Mekkadath (22), Thane,15-12, 15-12. GS U-13: Divisha Singh (1), Pune bt Risha Kadian, Raigad, 15-6, 12-15, 15-7; Hazel Joshi, Mumbai Suburban bt Nidhee Gaikwad (8), Pune,15-4, 15-1.