Jharkhand shuttle scene shuffle

The days of East Singhbhum shuttlers dominating the state badminton scene seem to have ended.

The seven-member team for the 44th Junior (Under-19) National Badminton Championship announced by the Jharkhand Badminton Association (JBA) has just one shuttler from the district, Deyashi Kanjibilia.

The national meet is scheduled in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, from December 24 to 30.

Jamshedpur-based Deyashi is part of the state squad in the girls’ singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

With the state association keen to spread wings outside East Singhbhum (read Jamshedpur), it will not be a surprise if shuttlers from other cities fill the slots in the state outfits for national competitions.

The steel city has no dearth of infrastructure and talented shuttlers. Barring the steel city and Ranchi, other districts don’t have adequate facilities but have promising players. The state association is serious to promote them by giving them opportunity and exposure in national championships.

Jamshedpur shuttlers invariably had the lion’s share in national competitions. The shuttlers here get ample opportunity thanks to regular tournaments being held. Plus, national mentor Sachin Rana also runs a cradle at Mohan Ahuja Stadium in Bistupur. This provides shuttlers exposure and a platform to improve their skills.

“We want shuttlers from other districts to come up and prove their talent,” said JBA secretary K. Prabhakar Rao. “And the players are proving their worth. We want to organise good number of tournaments in other districts and provide players an opportunity.”

The state outfit: Boys’ singles: Anurag Kumar (Lohardaga), Aman Raj (Seraikela-Kharsawan); girls’ singles: Deyashi Kanjibilya (East Singhbhum) Aadhya Singh (Seraikela-Kharsawan); boys’ doubles: Akhil Alex Kujur and Rahul Kumar Sahu (from Lohardaga); girls’ doubles: Deyashi Kanjibiliya and Aadhya Singh; mixed doubles: Deyashi Kanjibilia and Aakash Pandit (Giridih).

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