NAGPUR’S Ritika Thaker and Mumbai’s Simran Singhi, the top Indian shuttlers, stunned formidable pair of Neha Pandit and Shruti Mundada to clinch their maiden women’s doubles state crown as it was curtains to Senior Inter-District State Open Championships at Latur. Ritika and Simran kept their cool despite being down in the first game and went on to clinch the remaining two to emerge state champions
It was a horrible start for Ritika Simran pair as after being in a comfortablepositionat19-14in the first game, they conceded points easily to lose it 19-21. A pep talk inbetweenfromThane coach Akshay Devalkar during the break did all the magic as the duo crushed their opponents in the second game winning it 21-14.They both then played to a plan and executed them well in the last game.
Though Neha Pandit and Shruti Mundada tried hard keeping the gap narrow, Ritika and Simran had the last laugh as they clinched the battle 21-19.
Ritika is a student of Hislop and trains under Robin Simon and Ajay Dayal while Simran trains at Thane Academy. Ritika gives the credit of her success to her coaches, college, parentsanddistrictassociation
