World no. 11 shuttler Saina Nehwal clinched the Women’s singles title by beating World no. 2 PV Sindhu at the finals of the 82nd Senior National Badminton Championship 2017 held at Divisional Sports Complex, Nagpur. Nehwal won the title with the score of 21-17 and 27-25 thereby winning the title again after 2006 and 2007. PV Sindhu, who’s also a two-time national champion, fought hard in a thrilling match which kept the audience in the stadium glued to their seats.

 In the men’s singles bout, World no. 11 shuttler HS Prannoy beat World no. 2 Kidambi Srikanth in a hotly contested final to become the Indian national champion among men. The hard fought battle between the two men lasted 49 minutes. Srikanth, the winner of three of the last four matches between the pair until Wednesdays final, had gone into the tie as a favourite to clinch the title. But Prannoy proved to be more than a match for the 24-year-old, beating him 21-15, 16-21, 21-7.

Among the prominent spectators at the championship were Maharasthra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Badminton Association of India President Himanta Biswa Sarma, Maharashtra Badminton Association President Mr Arun Lakhani and former Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda.

Maharashtra Badminton Association President Arun Lakhani said, I would like to congratulate our new national champions. Their victories today were hard-won, with the 82^nd Senior National Badminton Championships truly saving the best for last. Billed the clash of the titans, the finals fully lived up to that promise. What we have seen on court today has been nothing short of a breathtaking display of sheer skill and ability. I would also like to thank Nagpur and the capacity crowds that have turned out on each day of the tournament to cheer their heroes on. Their support has been crucial in making the nationals a rousing success.

 Results:

 Mixed Doubles: Satwik Sairaj and Ashwini Ponnappa beat Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Sikki Reddy: 21-9, 20-22, 21-17

Mens Singles: H.S Prannoy beat K Srikant: 21-15, 16- 21, 21-7

Womens Doubles: Sikki Reddy N and Ashwini Ponnappa beat Sanyogita Ghorpade and Prajakta Sawant: 21-14, 21-14

Mens Doubles: Manu Attri and Sumit Reddy B. Beat Satwik Sai Raj R. and Chirag Shetty: 15-21, 22-20, 25-23

Womens Single: Saina Nehwal beat P.V. Sindhu: 21-17, 27-25

Pictures by: Thakur Raship Singh