CITY shuttler Ritika Thaker and her Delhi-based partner Nitin Kumar settled for a bronze medal at the Telangana International Challenge 2025 which concluded on Saturday at Hyderabad. In the semi-final match against Ishan Bhatnagar and Aaradhna Bal Chandran, Ritika-Nitin lost the first game 10-21.

 

They made a comeback and wrapped up the second game 21-16. In the decider, Ritika-Nitin could not get their act together to go down 7-21 to claim bronze. Speaking on the occasion after the match Ritika said they could not understand the drift on the court and unfortunately they got the same side in the 1st and 3rd games.

 

“When we had the other court in the second game we played our usual game and won,” she said. Ritika-Nitin now have claimed their first international medal just in their 4th tournament. She said they would iron out the problems in their strokes and prepare for the upcoming Syed Modi Open at Lucknow. Ritika practises at Arun Arundhati Badminton Academy, Besa.