North East Zone Inter State Badminton Championships Ngangom Rishav reaches men’s singles quarters as Manipur settle for three team runners up titles

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 5 : Manipur secured three runners up titles in the team championships of the Yonex Sunrise North East Zone Inter State Badminton Championships that began today in Agartala.
Manipur senior men’s, senior women’s and U-19 boys teams all settled for runners up titles following defeats in the final matches.
Manipur senior men’s team incurred a 1-3 loss to Assam in the final event despite Konthoujam Dingku and Khwairakpam Manjit securing men’s double victory.
Manipur slumped to 0-2 score with Sushantha Moirangthem losing 20-22, 18-21 to Orijit Chaliha in the first singles competition and Salam Bidyasagar suffering a 15-21, 19-21 loss in the second singles match.
Konthoujam Dingku and Khwairakpam Manjit made it 1-2 by defeating Nibir Ranjan Choudhury and Suraj Gaola in the 8-21, 21-16, 21-13 but Assam’s Bornil Changmai sealed their victory by defeating Manipur’s Hemam Malemnganba 21-16, 22-20 in the following singles match.
The women’s team meanwhile suffered a 2-3 loss to Assam in the final to finish runners up.
In the opening singles match, Konsam Gunjan suffered a 6-21, 11-21 loss to Isharani Baruah but Ksh Maheshwari Devi drew level by securing a 15-21, 21-14, 21-19 win in the second singles match.
The pair of Ksh Maheswari and Kongjengbam Priya then suffered a 17-21, 15-21 loss to the pair of Isharani Baruah and Manali Bora in the doubles match before Leonie Tayenjam kept the competition open by defeating Gargi Saikia 21-16, 18-21, 21-19 in the following singles match.
The Manipuri duo of Huidrom Velinda and Leimapokpam Diana however lost 12-21, 21-17, 10-21 in the deciding doubles competition to wrap up the final 2-3.
Manipur U-19 boys’ team meanwhile suffered a 0-2 loss to Mizoram in the final.
Martin Ingudam lost 13-21, 15-21 in the first singles match to H Lathazuala before Kyoveio Vemai and Ngangom Rishav suffered a 13-21, 18-21 loss in the following doubles match.
Assam also sealed the U-19 girls’ team title by handing Mizoram a 2-1 defeat.
Ngangom Rishav in men’s singles quarterfinals
Ngangom Rishav in the meantime reached the men’s singles quarterfinals on the opening day.
Rishav overcame Sidhant Gurung of Sikkim 21-15, 21-17 in a round of 16 clash to set up a quarterfinal date with top seeded Orijit Chaliha of Assam who eased past Tripura’s Mukut Jamatia 21-11, 21-6 in another round of 16 clash.