Big thrill for Mumbai badminton kids

Badminton players of age groups U16 and U14 rejoiced as they got the opportunity to represent their respective schools in the Mumbai School Sports Association MSSA interschool tournament after a gap of more than two yearsBefore this the interschool event was held in September 2019 For a few kids it meant missing a year or two of an age group and proving themselves in the higher age categoryAfter the MSSA final at Bombay Gymkhana on Friday wwwmiddaycom spoke to a few shuttlers who narrated how not getting to play the interschool tournament during the COVID19caused lockdown was frustrating and playing in a higher age group meant they were under more pressure to winGirls U16 winner Siya Singh 15 of Fatima High School Vidyavihar who beat Nirmitee Gajbhiye of Ryan International Goregaon 2114 2114 won gold in the U14 category in 2019 She didnt get to play in any local tournaments before January this yearI was not able to play many tournaments in U14 When I was 12 and 13 I won a silver 2018 and gold 2019 in the MSSA U14 category I hoped to win more interschool titles when COVID19 lockdown was announced and then I couldnt participate in any other age group tournaments before 2022 January I missed an entire age group and then this year I played in the U16 directly It felt a bit off I was a bit nervous at the start since this was my last year in U16 and I had the pressure to perform I am glad I won said Siya who trains at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy at CCI under Hufrish Nariman and Pooja KohliMeanwhile Oxford Public School Kandivlis Pranay who registered a 2111 2115 win over Soham Samir of Parle Tilak Vidyalaya English Vile Parle to clinch the MSSA U16 title said he missed playing age group tournaments badly in the last couple of yearsIn the last two years or so I had not played any age group tournaments In 2019 it was my first year in U14 where he won gold and now I played in U16 when it is my last year in the age group I am glad MSSA organised this tournament and I was able to win gold for my school said Pranay who thanked coaches U Bhaskar Babu from Hyderabad and Mumbais Manish Hadkar sponsor Navneet Foundation school authorities and family for helping him reach where he is right nowCoaches U Bhaskar Babu and Kiran Dehare have played a key role for U14 winner Pranit Somani of Billabong High MaladCOVID19 times were not easy Kiran sir and Bhaskar sir helped me a lot There were no tournaments we were just training I missed one year in U12 and one year in U14 Next year it will be my first year in U16 It was good to play in an interschool tournament after two years said the Class VIII student who defeated Arjun Reddy Aluguvelli of Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir Mulund 2110 1621 2112 in the U14 final