Jayakumar-Anto pair capture BKS badminton title

JAYAKUMAR and Anto emerged Group Red champions of the II'nd Syed Modi Monthly Badminton Tournament, organised by the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS).

The winning pair defeated Jain and his playing partner Unnikrishna Pillai 21-12, 21-16 in the top category's final match in this two-day event, held at BKS grounds and sponsored by Optima Home Appliances.

Earlier in their semi-final match, Jayakumar and Anto booked their berth in the final after beating Salesh C and Simin Sasi 21-17, 21-13.

Jain then teamed up with Unnikrishna Pillai to outplay the tandem of Diase and Anoop N 21-13, 21-15 and set up the title decider.

The tournament was conducted in four different categories, based on the skill level of the players.

In other groups, the winners were Rajesh A C and Thulaseedharan Pillai in Group Green, Rajesh Pillai and Sunder in Group Yellow as well as Shaji and Shibu in Group Blue.

Trophies for the winners and runners-up were presented by the President of the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam P V Radhakrishan Pillai and BKS' general secretary Varghese Karakkal, Indoor Games secretary Anil Kumar at the awarding ceremony held right after the final.

OM Entertainment secretary Manoharan Pavaratty, Literary Wing secretary Binoj Mathew, Membership secretary Mohanaprasad and Optima representative Babu Vadakkan also attended the event.

The trophies and cash prize for Card 56 tournament winners held at BKS last month were also presented on this occasion.

BKS, in association with Bahrain Badminton and Squash Federation, conducted an umpire course last month as certificates for the National Qualified Badminton Umpires were also presented at the same function.

Other results:

Group Green:

Final: Rajesh A C/Thulaseedharan Pillai bt Priyan/Tony 15-21, 21-17, 21-14. Semi-finals: Rajesh A C/Thulaseedharan Pillai bt Anoop. P/Reji Nair 21-18, 13-21, 21-14. Priyan/Tony bt Anil Kumar/ O M Shanto 21-19, 21-17.

Group Yellow:

Final: Rajesh Pillai/Sunder bt Ajay Madhav/Suresh S 21-16, 21-18-. Semi-finals: Rajesh Pillai/Sunder bt Shanil/Eldho 19-21, 21-11, 21-11. Ajay Madhav/Suresh S bt Manoj/Mujeeb 21-16, 21-18.

Group Blue:

Final: Shaji/Shibu bt Siddiq/Vipin 21-18, 21-12. Semi-finals: Shaji/Shibu bt Sanal/Shabeer 21-13, 25-23: Siddiq/Vipin bt Ganesh/Rahul 20-22, 21-19, 21-19.