India crowned South Asian U-19 badminton champions

Guwahati, December 5: India lived upto the favourites' tag and walloped Nepal 3-0 to win the first ever South Asian Regional Badminton Tournament (team championship) here on Tuesday (December 5).

India, who came into the final without losing a single match, continued their good run with Aryaman Tandon drawing the first blood in the boys'singles competition.

Taking on the winner (mixed doubles) of Pakistan International Badminton Series Dipesh Dhami, Aryaman, ranked third in India (under-19), was in his elements from the word go and picked up an easy 21-9, 21-15 victory to give the hosts an early initiative.

Local star Ashmita Chaliha continued the Indian juggernaut as she danced her way to a 21-9, 21-6 win over Rashila Maharjan in the girls' singles event. Ashmita, who has been picked up by the North Eastern Warriors for the upcoming edition of the Premier Badminton League, barely broke a sweat and registered a comprehensive victory to double India's lead.

In the boys' doubles event, the pair of Arintap Dasgupta and Krishna Prasad G had to stave off a challenge from Nepalese duo of Dipesh Dhami and Nabin Shrestha. Nepal started off well winning the first game 21-19. However, the Indians came back stronger and won the next two games 21-14, 21-11 to seal the deal for the Indian contingent.

Sanjay Mishra, the Indian junior badminton coach, was ecstatic with the win and said, "It was a great performance by the squad and we are happy with the way they played. It was as easy as the results show. Nepal are a good team and I am really happy that the team executed the plans as had discussed."