Devika Sihag claimed the women’s singles title at the 86th edition of the Bangalore Senior Nationals, defeating rising star Shriyanshi Valishetty 21-15, 21-16 at the Karnataka Badminton Association courts. Training at the Prakash Padukone Academy in Bangalore, Sihag, known for her reach and powerful strokes, showcased her attacking style throughout the tournament and secured the senior title, ensuring her spot in team events and a debut for India in the upcoming season.
In the men’s singles, Karnataka’s M Raghu won his first title, overcoming former national champion Mithun Manjunath in a thrilling 14-21, 21-14, 24-22 comeback victory. Raghu saved three match points to defeat his senior, benefiting from the fast conditions in Bangalore.
The young player, who thrives on fast courts, has had an impressive run, including a notable upset over top seed Sathish Kumar in the semifinals. However, defeating the crafty and skillful Mithun was a different challenge altogether. Despite this, he kept his composure and delivered in the crucial moments, clinching his maiden national title in just under an hour.
In men’s doubles, junior national champions Arsh Mohammad and Sanskar Saraswat impressed by winning the senior title as well, upsetting top seeds Naveen P and Lokesh V of Tamil Nadu with a 12-21, 21-12, 19-21 victory. Sanskar, whose father runs an academy in Jaipur, excels in both singles and doubles and will soon have to decide on his future direction in the sport.
Arsh, from the small town of Banda in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh, is the son of a former suits tailor. Despite their modest means, his father Ashfaq, a passionate fan of the sport, encouraged Arsh to pursue badminton. Arsh has always had a preference for doubles, and the pair trains at the National Centre in Guwahati.
In mixed doubles, Ayush Agarwal and Shruti Mishra, a former women’s doubles national champion, claimed the title, while Arathi Sara Sunil and Varshini VS won the women’s doubles final. The talented Varshini secured Tamil Nadu’s first senior national title in women’s doubles, making a significant achievement for the state.
The men’s singles final delivered the most excitement as Raghu staged a comeback from a set and 15-19 down. He leveled the score at 19 with his aggressive forecourt play, but Mithun remained resilient. Raghu, however, fought off three match points, displaying excellent determination. After Anmol Kharb’s impressive international performance last year, it is now Sihag’s turn to make her mark on the global circuit. Her tall, powerful game is well-equipped to surprise on the international stage as opportunities arise.
Senior Nationals Badminton Results
Singles
Men: M. Raghu (Kar) bt Mithun Manjunath (Rly) 14-21, 21-14, 24-22
Women: Devika Sihag (Har) bt Shriyanshi Valishetty (TS) 21-15, 21-16
Doubles
Men: Arsh Mohammad (UP) & Sanskar Saraswat (Raj) bt P. Naveen (TN) & V. Lokesh (TN) 21-12, 12-21, 21-19
Women: Arathi Sara Sunil (Ker) & V.S. Varshini (TN) bt Priya Devi Konjengbam (Mnp) & Shruti Mishra (UP) 21-18, 20-22, 21-17