Flying Gravity clinches TNBL title

Despite going down twice in the tie, it ended up clinching the title. The opening match of the tie saw the top two shuttlers from the state, Akshaya Arumugam and VS Varshini, go head-to-head.

TJF’s Varshini asserted her supremacy over Akshaya in women’s singles for the second time in the tournament, defeating her 15-11, 15-11. She had already come up trumps when the two teams met during a group 1 match on the second day. After losing the first match, FG came back strongly to level things up. The mixed doubles duo of Poornima Cheruku and Velavan emerged victorious against Chandramouleeswar and Winona with a scoreline of 15-9, 14-15, 15-11. 

TJF restored its lead at the end of the third match as Manigandan R came from behind to beat FG’s Kishore S 14-15, 15-6, 15-7 in the men’s singles encounter. FG once again managed to peg back, with the junior boys (Under-17) pairing of Vikash Prabhu and Arun Sreevatsan securing a thumping 15-8, 15-10 win over Arun Karthick and Manoj DN. The teams were locked up at 2-2 at the end of four matches. 

FG saved its best for the last, showing nerves of steel in the final match of the tournament. Mohan Raj and Bhuvanesh beat Arjun Krishnan and Danush Kumar 15-12, 15-11 in the men’s doubles match which served as the decider. 

Results: Final: Flying Gravity beat The Jade Force 3-2: Women’s singles: Akshaya Arumugam lost to Varshini VS 11-15, 11-15; Mixed doubles: Poornima Cheruku/ Velavan beat Chandramouleeswar/ Winona 15-9, 14-15, 15-11; Men’s singles: Kishore S lost to Manigandan R 15-14, 6-15, 7-15; Junior boys doubles (Under-17) Vikash Prabhu/ Arun Sreevatsan beat Arun Karthick/ Manoj DN 15-8, 15-10; Men’s doubles: Mohan Raj/ Bhuvanesh beat Arjun Krishnan/ Danush Kumar 15-12, 15-11.