Qatar Badminton Academy (QBA) players excelled in the First Doha Secondary School Badminton Open Championship  which was held form March 24 to 26.
Karthik Pramodkumar of Qatar Badminton Academy won the under-16 boys singles title defeating Anirudh Narayan also from QBA in straight games. Karthik took the first game, but Anirudh got injured later in the match which made him retire.
Earlier, Karthik Pramod defeated Mohd Gayuh in the semifinal 21-13, 21-11. Rohit Manoj of QBA lost to Anirudh in second semi-final 21-19, 21-12.
In the Under-16 boys doubles QBA’s Chirag and Darsan lost to Ahmad Qassim and AbdulHakim Satham 21-7, 21-12.
In the under-16 girls singles, Aditi Anil of QBA defeated her compatriot Sunidhi Shenoy in a closely fought thrilling 3-setter 21-12, 16-21, 21-17. Later in the under-16 girls doubles Aditi Anil paring with Sunidhi Shenoy beat fellow Academy stars Amnah Abouelseoud and Neha Shetty in straight games 21-10, 21-12.
In the match of the day, the women’s doubles finals saw Aditi and Sunidhi defeat third seeded Abel Villaren and Leslie Anne in a thrilling match. They took the first game (21-16), but Abel and partner with their experience won the second set (15-21). In the third and the deciding game, Aditi and Sunidhi humbled the experienced duo taking the game 21-15.
Also, QBA’s Saadwi Shiral and Bhavya reached the semifinal stages in the under-13 girls singles category. Saadwi produced a brilliant display before losing to Sreeyuktha of UAE in a closely contested three-games 19-21, 21-13, 21-19.
Advaith Raghav reached the semi-finals in the under-13 Boys singles category but could not play because of injury.
Debutant Shaffin Reyods of QBA gave a good account of himself and impressed the crowd before losing to Ahmed Qassim in a thrilling three-setter.
Qatar Badminton Academy mentors Pramod Kumar amd KO George won the veteran doubles title by defeating Sunil Thomas and Zachariya MP in a straight game 21-14, 23-21.
Prizes were distributed by Dr Saleh Abdullah the owner and head of the Doha Independent Secondary School for Boys, in the presence of Dr Salah Salem, representative from the Ministry of Education and other
dignitaries.