PSPB, MP enter finals of Interstate Inter Zonal C'ship

Experienced doubles specialist Manu Attri guided defending champions and title-favourites Petroleum Sports Promotional Board (PSPB) to the finals of the InterState Inter Zonal Championship here today.
Attri clinched the mixed doubles and men's doubles match along with his partners -- N Sikki Reddy and Pranaav Chopra -- repectively, while G Ruthvika Shivani won the women's singles match to help PSPB beat Maharashtra 3-1 to reach the finals.
For Madhya Pradesh, Shriyanshi Pardeshi registered win in the women's singles, while men's doubles pair of Alap Mishra & Abhimanyu Singh and mixed doubles combo of Kushboo Patel & Shubham Prajapati won their respective matches to outwit Manipur 3-1 in the other semifinal.

After a high-profile inauguration ceremony got the 73rd edition of the tournament to a smashing start, shuttlers produced some riveting on-court action at the Divisional Sports Complex here.
Over 4500 school children attended the inaugural ceremony as the kids danced to the tune of traditional dhol and cheered the players.
A total of six ties were played over the course of the day and the finals will be played tomorrow.

Maharashtra Badminton Association President Arun Lakhani said, "We wish to take Nationals to the level of Super Series. It should be a unique event where all the top national players participate. Steps taken at Nagpur are towards the same, offering best playing conditions and support.

Results:
Team championship:
Semifinals:
PSPB bt Mahaashtra 3-1 (Manu Attri & N Sikki Reddy bt Akshay Dewalkar & Sanjana Santosh 21-16, 21-14; RMV Guru Sai Dutt lost to Kaushal Dharmamer 14-21, 22-20, 11-21; G Ruthvika Shivani bt Neha Pandit 21-12, 21-15; Manu Attri & Pranaav Chopra bt Akshay Dewalkar & Prasad Shetty 21-13, 21-9).
MP bt Manipur 3-1 (Kushboo Patel & Shubham Prajapati bt K Dingku Singh & N. Purnima Devi 19-21, 21-19, 21-16; Shubham Prajapati lost to Maisnam Meiraba 12-21, 22-20, 18-21; Shriyanshi Pardeshi bt Angita Naorem 21-4, 21-5; Alap Mishra & Abhimanyu Singh bt Manjit Singh Khwairakpam & Dingku Singh Konthoujam 21-19, 22-20).