Badminton players of age groups U-16 and U-14 rejoiced as they got the opportunity to represent their respective schools in the Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school tournament after a gap of more than two years.
Before this, the inter-school event was held in September 2019. For a few kids it meant missing a year or two of an age group and proving themselves in the higher age category.
After the MSSA final at Bombay Gymkhana on Friday, www.mid-day.com spoke to a few shuttlers who narrated how not getting to play the inter-school tournament during the COVID-19-caused lockdown was frustrating and playing in a higher age group meant they were under more pressure to win.
Girls U-16 winner Siya Singh, 15, of Fatima High School (Vidyavihar), who beat Nirmitee Gajbhiye of Ryan International (Goregaon) 21-14, 21-14, won gold in the U-14 category in 2019. She didn`t get to play in any local tournaments before January this year.
“I was not able to play many tournaments in U-14. When I was 12 and 13, I won a silver [2018] and gold [2019] in the MSSA U-14 category. I hoped to win more inter-school titles when COVID-19 lockdown was announced and then I couldn`t participate in any other age group tournaments before 2022 January. I missed an entire age group and then this year I played in the U-16 directly. It felt a bit off. I was a bit nervous at the start since this was my last year in U-16 and I had the pressure to perform. I am glad I won,” said Siya, who trains at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy at CCI under Hufrish Nariman and Pooja Kohli.
Meanwhile, Oxford Public School, Kandivli`s Pranay, who registered a 21-11, 21-15 win over Soham Samir of Parle Tilak Vidyalaya English (Vile Parle) to clinch the MSSA U-16 title, said he missed playing age group tournaments badly in the last couple of years.”In the last two years or so I had not played any age group tournaments. In 2019, it was my first year in U-14 [where he won gold] and now I played in U-16 when it is my last year in the age group. I am glad MSSA organised this tournament and I was able to win gold for my school,” said Pranay, who thanked coaches U Bhaskar Babu from Hyderabad and Mumbai`s Manish Hadkar, sponsor Navneet Foundation, school authorities and family for helping him reach where he is right now.
Coaches U Bhaskar Babu and Kiran Dehare have played a key role for U-14 winner, Pranit Somani of Billabong High (Malad).
“COVID-19 times were not easy. Kiran sir and Bhaskar sir helped me a lot. There were no tournaments, we were just training. I missed one year in U-12 and one year in U-14. Next year it will be my first year in U-16. It was good to play in an inter-school tournament after two years,” said the Class VIII student, who defeated Arjun Reddy Aluguvelli of Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir (Mulund) 21-10, 16-21, 21-12 in the U-14 final.
