National Games 2023: M Tharun, Anupama Upadhyaya win men’s and women’s singles badminton gold

In the men’s singles final, Tharun overpowered the experienced Sourabh Varma 21-15, 16-21, 21-15 in an hour and 10 minutes to bag his first National Games gold.

M Tharun during the badminton men’s singles final. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Telangana’s M Tharun and Haryana’s Anupama Upadhayaya registered contrasting victories to clinch the men’s and women’s singles badminton titles in the 37th National Games at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium on Tuesday.

In the men’s singles final, Tharun overpowered the experienced Sourabh Varma 21-15, 16-21, 21-15 in an hour and 10 minutes to bag his first National Games gold. 

“My plan was simply to play to my strength and keep pressure on Sourabh. I am happy that it worked perfectly today,” said Tharun after the match.

Later, national champion Anupama Upadhyaya underlined her domination on the domestic circuit beating Uttarakhand’s Aditi Bhatt 21-13, 21-18.

Karnataka won golds in the men and women doubles events on the final day of badminton action. 

Women’s doubles top seeds Shikha Gautam and Ashwini Bhat defeated Maharashtra’s Ritika Thaker and Simran Singhi 21-11, 21-18 while the combination of HV Sunil and K Pruthvi Roy upset top seeds Hariharan Amsakarunan and R Ruban Kumar of Tamil Nadu 15-21, 21-18, 21-18 in the men’s doubles final.

Andhra Pradesh combination of Gouse Shaikh and D Pooja bagged the remaining gold on offer in mixed doubles with a 21-8, 21-17 victory over top seeds Navaneeth Bokka and K Maneesha.

Elsewhere, defending champions Haryana men reached the finals of the of the Netball competition with a hard fought 60-58 victory over Delhi.

In the final, Haryana will take on Kerala, which defeated Jammu and Kashmir 59-41.

In Navelim, Services Sports Control Board and Tamil Nadu sealed their spot in the men’s basketball 5x5 semifinal from Pool B after winning both their matches. In the morning session, Services defeated Rajasthan 81-60 while Tamil Nadu got the better of Kerala 82-46.

In the women’s section, Maharashtra kept its hopes of qualifying for the semifinal with a 77-48 victory over Delhi in Pool B. In the sessions other match, Karnataka defeated Tamil Nadu 69-51.

Important Results:

Badminton (Finals):

Men’s Singles: 4-M Tharun (Tel) bt Sourabh Varma (MP) 21-15, 16-21, 21-15

Men’s Doubles: HV Nithin/K Pruthvi Roy (Kar) bt 2-Hariharan Amsakarunan/R Ruban Kumar 15-21, 21-18, 21-18

Women’s Singles: 4-Anupama Upadhayaya (Har) bt Aditi Bhatt (Utr) 21-13, 21-18

Women’s Doubles: 1-Shikha Gautam/Ashwini Bhat (Kar) bt Ritika Thaker/Simran Singhi (Mah) 21-11, 21-18

Mixed Doubles: Gouse Shaikh/D Pooja (AP) bt 1-Navaneeth Bokka/K Maneesha (Tel) 21-8, 21-17.

Basketball

Men

Pool A: Punjab bt Delhi 104-70; Goa bt Telangana 86-56

Pool B: Tamil Nadu bt Kerala 82-46; Services bt Rajasthan 81-60

Women

Pool A: Kerala bt Uttar Pradesh 78-37;

Pool B: Maharashtra bt Delhi 77-48; Karnataka bt Tamil Nadu 69-51

Netball

Men (Semifinals): Haryana bt Delhi 60-58; Kerala bt Jammu and Kashmir 59-41